Elsevier

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Volume 88, Issue 5, November 2009, Pages 1674-1676
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Case report
Fibrosing Mediastinitis and Occlusion of Pulmonary Veins After Radiofrequency Ablation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.03.013Get rights and content

Pulmonary vein stenosis is a known complication of radiofrequency ablation; its incidence ranges from 8% to 50%. However, complete occlusion of unilateral pulmonary veins is uncommon. We report a case with radiofrequency ablation that was complicated by complete occlusion of pulmonary veins along with fibrosing mediastinitis, which we believe has not been previously reported.

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Comment

The technique of RA focuses energy on the atrial wall, pulmonary veins, atrioventricular valve annuli, the cavae, and the coronary sinus. Recurrent AF and atrial flutter, cardiac injury, pulmonary edema, and phrenic nerve injuries are recognized complications of the procedure [3]. There is also data to suggest that pulmonary vein isolation during RA can lead to pulmonary vein stenosis occlusion.

Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis has been defined as a reduction in luminal diameter of greater than 50%

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