Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Although rare, atrioesophageal fistula is a serious and often lethal complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Consequently, esophagogastroduodenoscopy after AF catheter ablation has been suggested to detect thermal esophageal lesions. ⋯ Upper GI pathologies are observed frequently in asymptomatic patients. Half of all patients have a requirement for treatment. Among the findings, thermal esophageal lesions and gastroparesis can be attributed to AF catheter ablation. The high incidence of gastroparesis is a novel finding that deserves further investigation.