CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2023; 14(01): 062-063
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759509
Image

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Caused by Atrioesophageal Fistula Secondary to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Laura Tejerizo-García
1   Department of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
,
Ana Meníndez-Ramos
1   Department of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
,
Carmen Villar-Lucas
1   Department of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
,
Antonio Velasco-Guardado
1   Department of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
2   Digestive System Research Group of Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.

Abstract

We present the case of a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by an atrioesophageal fistula secondary to radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of refractory atrial fibrillation. Atrioesophageal fistula is a rare but serious complication. The endoscopic treatment is not established in the case of vascular-enteric fistulas and is still a challenge for endoscopists, which requires in most cases a multidisciplinary approach.

Authors' Contributions

TGL and MRA wrote the article and processed the images. VLC and VGA performed the endoscopies. VGA supervised all writing process.


Author Listed as the Article Guarantor

Dr. Antonio Velasco Guardado.


Patient Consent

The informed patient consent was obtained for publication of the case details.




Publication History

Article published online:
23 December 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 
  • References

  • 1 Della Rocca DG, Magnocavallo M, Natale VN. et al. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of atrioesophageal fistula resulting from atrial fibrillation ablation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021; 32 (09) 2441-2450
  • 2 Han HC, Ha FJ, Sanders P. et al. Atrioesophageal fistula: clinical presentation, procedural characteristics, diagnostic investigations, and treatment outcomes. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2017; 10 (11) e005579
  • 3 Jehaludi A, Heist EK, Giveans MR, Anand R. Retrospective review of 65 atrioesophageal fistulas post atrial fibrillation ablation. Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J 2018; 18 (03) 100-107
  • 4 Nair GM, Nery PB, Redpath CJ, Lam BK, Birnie DH. Atrioesophageal fistula in the era of atrial fibrillation ablation: a review. Can J Cardiol 2014; 30 (04) 388-395
  • 5 Baker MJ, Panchal PC, Allenby PA. Life-threatening GI hemorrhage caused by atrioesophageal fistula: a rare complication after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Gastrointest Endosc 2010; 72 (04) 887-889