Esophageal Endoscopy after High-power and Short-duration Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

摘要

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice worldwide,1) andthe management of known risk factors is an important component of AF management.2) Also,radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) has been proven as an effective therapeutic methodfor AF and is being performed exponentially. However, procedure-related complications stillcannot be ignored and esophageal thermal injury (ETI) is one of the most serious complications.Although the precise mechanism of ETI is not completely understood, potential mechanisms ofETI include direct thermal injury, acid reflux exacerbated or caused by RFCA, infection from thelumen, and ischemic injury through thermal occlusion of end arterioles.