Case report
Complete Pulmonary Venous Occlusion After Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.06.060Get rights and content

Pulmonary vein stenosis is a known, yet under-recognized complication of radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. We present the case of a patient developing complete left-sided pulmonary venous occlusion following radiofrequency ablation. Recommendations are made to allow earlier diagnosis of this complication.

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Comment

Pulmonary vein occlusion after radiofrequency ablation is an important and probably under-recognized complication with an estimated incidence ranging from < 2% to 42% depending on ablative technique and investigative method [3, 4]. Progression of the injury in time was demonstrated in animal data showing intimal proliferation, collagen replacement of necrotic myocardium, endovascular contraction, and proliferation of the elastic lamina [5]. Clinically silent stenosis or obliteration may be

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