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Cardiology Research

Case Report

Volume 7, Number 1, February 2016, pages 36-45

Management of Atrio-Esophageal Fistula Following Left Atrial Ablation

Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) consists of heart rate control, rhythm control, and anticoagulation. Left atrial catheter ablation with either cryotherapy or radiofrequency is now accepted as a treatment for symptomatic drug-refractory AF. With an increase in left atrial ablation procedures, there has also been a concomitant rise in post-procedural complications.

We present a review of the previous literature that demonstrates the dire complication of atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF), which is defined as an abnormal connection between the esophagus and atrium of the heart following left atrial ablation.

A 77-year-old female with a past medical history of paroxysmal AF of 8 years duration presented to the hospital with worsening symptoms of palpitations and shortness of breath over the past 6 months. Over the previous 3 months, she had uncontrolled symptomatic arrhythmias despite being on dronedarone, which was then switched to amiodarone. After the switch, she suffered from additional symptoms including fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite, and dry cough. She underwent left atrial cryotherapy ablation for treatment of AF. On post-operative day 1, she complained of dysphagia, which resolved using empiric medical therapy with pantoprazole and sucralfate.

Twenty days after the ablation, the patient was re-admitted with fever, chills, and difficulty swallowing. An esophagram with gastrografin demonstrated a contrast leak anterior to the esophagus at the level of the left atrium but without an obvious connection (Fig. 1). She developed new-onset weakness in her left extremities. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed multifocal emboli. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) did not show any evidence of a clot in the atrium. With a high suspicion for an AEF, a thoracic CT was performed and confirmed a fistulous tract between the esophagus and left atrium.

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Figure 1. X-ray esophagus with gastrografin showing sinus tracts extending from anterior aspect of esophagus.

A left posterior lateral thoracotomy was performed for surgical repair of the existing fistula. Post-operatively, repeat esophagram with gastrografin was ordered and demonstrated additional sinus tracts extending from the thoracic segment of the esophagus to the left atrium (Fig. 2). Due to the persistent fistula, the patient underwent another surgery. The patient was not sent home on oral anticoagulation therapy. Two weeks following the second surgery, the patient had several bouts of intractable coughing. An esophagram after this episode re-demonstrated a fistulous tract. Despite heroic measures, the patient’s condition deteriorated and she ultimately expired 3 days later secondary to septic shock.

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Figure 2. X-ray esophagus with gastrografin showing two sinus tracts extending from anterior aspect of esophagus at level T7.

A 64-year-old male underwent cryoablation of all four pulmonary veins for symptomatic drug refractory AF and was discharged home the same day on rivaroxaban and amiodarone for 3 months as well as an event monitor for 3 weeks. Later that night, the patient developed pleuritic chest pain. He was found to be in atrial flutter in the emergency department. A CTA of the chest and abdomen identified esophageal perforation with a fistulous tract to the left atrium (Fig. 3). Echocardiogram at this time showed a moderate to large pericardial effusion with no evidence of hemodynamic compromise.

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Figure 3. CTA of the chest and abdomen identified esophageal perforation with a fistulous tract to the left atrium.

Median sternotomy was performed 5 days post-ablation in order to drain the pericardial effusion of purulent fluid. An esophageal stent was also placed for the treatment of an AEF. Pericardial fluid cultures grew group A Streptococcus and the patient was started on antibiotics. Although he improved clinically, an esophagram revealed a persistent AEF (Fig. 4). The patient was sent to a rehabilitation facility.

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Figure 4. Esophagogram showing extravasation of contrast from posterolateral aspect of esophagus.

The patient was hospitalized and found to have intermittent febrile episodes with hypotension and three transient episodes of left-sided weakness. The patient was in AF with rapid response; therefore, he was maintained on amiodarone and a heparin drip.

A TTE demonstrated a mobile echogenic structure within the left atrium consistent with a thrombus. He underwent sternotomy with removal of the left atrial thrombus and closure of a patent foramen ovale. The patient was transferred to our facility to undergo repair of the newly demonstrated AEF. Figure 5 demonstrates the 2-cm defect in the esophagus (Fig. 5). It was accomplished with surgery consisting of an autologous pericardial patch with suture repair of the esophageal defect and latissimus dorsi muscle interposition flap placement (Fig. 6). The esophagus was circumferentially wrapped with the latissimus flap. The esophageal stent was also removed. He tolerated the surgery well. Heparin drip was started immediately post-operatively. The patient was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. Patient was followed up several months afterwards and has continued to do well post-operatively.

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Figure 5. Two-centimeter defect in the esophagus.

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Figure 6. Esophagus wrapped circumferentially with latissimus flap.

The indications and application of left atrial ablation in the treatment of AF have progressively expanded in the past decade [1, 2]. A single ablation procedure was successful in 50% of patients and additional ablation procedures increased long-term freedom from AF to 80% [3]. Nevertheless, complication rates following ablation have mounted with rates varying amongst studies from 0.8% to 6% [1, 4]. When patients consent to catheter ablation, they must understand the risks associated with the procedure. Major complications include cardiac tamponade (1.31%), thromboembolic events (stroke 0.23%, transient ischemic attacks 0.71%), pulmonary vein stenosis (0.29% requiring dilation), esophageal injury (AEF 0.04%), and death (0.15%) [1, 4]. Esophageal injury can vary greatly from one patient to the next. The spectrum of injury ranges from esophageal erythema, ulcer-like changes in the esophageal wall, peri-esophageal nerve injury, esophageal perforation, and the development of an AEF.

Although AEF is a rare complication, it carries a higher rate of morbidity and mortality compared to all other complications related to AF catheter ablation [1]. Due to its anatomic location relative to the posterior left atrium (0.9 ± 0.2 mm) [4], the anterior esophagus is particularly prone to surgical injury [5]. Esophageal complications have been reported in up to 47% of patients who underwent catheter ablation [4]. The most notorious and fatal of these esophageal complications is AEF. Table 1 [6-48] provides a comprehensive summary of all documented cases of AEF (Table 1).

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Table 1. Descriptions of Published Case Reports and Case Series With AEF After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Prompt diagnosis of AEF is paramount as emergent intervention is required [49]. The clinical presentation of AEF includes but is not limited to fever, chest pain, dysphagia, melena, hematemesis, and sepsis. AEF usually presents between 3 days and 5 weeks post-ablation [50]. Many patients with AEF present with neurological manifestations including stroke, TIA, seizures, and meningitis [49, 50]. The AEF can act as a single-way valve for air and emboli leading to neurologic manifestations [50]. Diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion for AEF and knowledge of the complications of catheter ablation. If AEF is suspected, water-soluble contrast esophagram may illustrate a fistulous tract. In addition, X-ray or CT of the chest may aid in identifying pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum.

Relative contraindications exist for upper endoscopy and TEE in order to limit food and air embolism, enlargement of the fistula, and further esophageal damage [50, 51]. Furthermore, oral intake should be avoided to prevent postprandial food embolism. In order to prevent AEF formation, several protective measures have been suggested. These include gastric acid suppression, esophageal temperature monitoring, mechanical deflection of the esophagus, and thermal insulation of the esophagus [10].

Although there are no current guideline recommendations about treatment with stents or surgical fistula takedown [2], our review indicates a dramatic response to definitive surgical intervention, which shows a decreased mortality rate from 100% to 32.4% (Table 2).

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Table 2. Summary Table

In a non-randomized control trial, stenting alone was initially chosen because it is less invasive [5]. Due to poor outcomes, the remaining patients were treated with surgical intervention, which showed a significant improvement in mortality. From review of the literature, patients who received stent placement alone had significantly higher mortality because stents cannot prevent embolic events with an established AEF [52]. Ellis et al demonstrated stenting as a preventative measure post-esophageal injury without AEF [10].

The question will arise regarding the unstable patient with AEF. Conventional standards suggest that surgery may be associated with higher risks. However, our review of the literature shows that most patients with AEF who received stent placement or medical therapy alone without surgical intervention will die. Therefore, we believe that even the unstable patient should be taken to the operating room in a timely manner. Stenting may be used as a temporary bridge to surgical intervention but is by no means a definitive therapy. Maintenance of anticoagulation is recommended due to high risk of left atrial thrombus formation and high incidence of cardio-embolic events. Early initiation of anticoagulation after surgical repair may decrease the incidence of post-repair stroke.

A multicenter prospective study may be warranted to further validate our conclusions. This would help elucidate any biases of patient population, physician preference, and operator proficiency.

Esophageal injury and subsequent fistula formation are among the most frequent and fatal complications of left atrial ablation therapy for symptomatic AF. Screening for patients at increased risk as well as peri-procedural attempts at minimizing the risk of esophageal injury needs to be pursued. Ultimately, survival after post-ablative esophageal injury is likely correlated to high diagnostic suspicion for such injury, prompt diagnosis, and urgent surgical intervention rather than stent placement or medical management for this dreaded complication.

Conflict of Interest

No authors involved in this project have any disclosures to report.

Source of Funding

None.

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