Complicazioni esofagee indotte dall'ablatore catetere.

Catheter ablation-induced atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is one of the most devastating complications of catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation patients and is associated with extraordinarily high morbidity and mortality. Mucosal ulceration, erosion and erythema are milder variants of esophageal injury. Esophageal ulceration is an indicator for increased risk of progression to AEF. In case of clinical suspicion of esophageal perforation with or without fistula a computed tomography with contrast-medium is obligatory to exclude a cardiac fistula before performing esophageal endoscopy. Published strategies to prevent esophageal injury are the use of esophageal temperature probes, mechanical e