Esophageal ulceration: a complication of radiofrequency ablation treatment of atrial fibrillation.

摘要

An 82-year-old woman with a history of chronic atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure underwent a Cox maze procedure with radiofrequency ablation to restore sinus rhythm. Approximately 12 hours after the surgery, she developed profound hematemesis. On evaluation, she was tachycardic (pulse 100-110 beats/min, sinus rhythm [normal 55-95 beats/min]) and normotensive. Her hemoglobin decreased from 12 g/dL to 8 g/dL (14.0-17.4 g/dL), and her coagulation parameters (international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time) were normal.