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Review
. 2017 Jun 2;17(1):143.
doi: 10.1186/s12872-017-0581-7.

Aeroembolism in left atrium during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in a patient with dextrocardia: a case report and review of the literature

Yun-Fan Wang  1 , Xue-Jiang Cen  1 , Jian-Wu Yu  1 , Bai-Ming Qu  1 , Li-Hong Wang  2
Affiliations
Review

Aeroembolism in left atrium during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in a patient with dextrocardia: a case report and review of the literature

Yun-Fan Wang et al. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Air embolus penetrating into heart chamber as a complication during percutaneous radiofrequency catheter ablation has been infrequently reported.

Case presentation: A 55-year-old man with dextrocardia who suffered from abdominal pain was suspected to have multiple arterial thromboembolisms, which might have originated from left atrium thrombosis since he had atrial fibrillation. He received oral anticoagulant therapy and catheter ablation of the arrhythmia. During the ablation procedure, an iatrogenic aeroembolism penetrated into the left atrium due to improper operation. Ultimately, the entire air embolus was extracted from the patient, who was free of any aeroembolism events thereafter.

Conclusions: It is essential for an operator to pay full attention to all details of the procedure to avoid an aeroembolism during catheter ablation. In case of aeroembolism, removal by aspiration is an optimal and effective treatment.

Keywords: Aeroembolism; Atrial fibrillation; Case report; Catheter ablation; Dextrocardia.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The 12-lead electrocardiography of the patient at admission
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The chest fluoroscopy demonstrated dextrocardia
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The connection of the catheters and transfusion tubes during the procedure of catheter ablation. The schematic figure showed that the inner diameter of the Agilis sheath is thicker than the ablation catheter, so there is residue space within the sheath in which thrombosis would potentially occur
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The aeroembolism accumulate in the left atrium and the process of aspiration out of it. a. The LAO view of the fluoroscopy demonstrated an big air bubble accumulated in the left atrium (within the red circle); b. A coronary angiography catheter is used to suck the aeroembolism out
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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