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Case Reports
. 2017 Mar 18;3(3):20160091.
doi: 10.1259/bjrcr.20160091. eCollection 2017.

Pulmonary vein occlusion and lung infarction complicating non-treated moderate single pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation

Khalid M Alfudhili  1 , Hesham H Hassan  1 , Hesham Abdullah  2 , Mohsen Sherbiny  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pulmonary vein occlusion and lung infarction complicating non-treated moderate single pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation

Khalid M Alfudhili et al. BJR Case Rep. .

Abstract

Pulmonary vein (PV) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective, curative technique for selected group of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. However, pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a potential complication which may present clinically as non-specific respiratory symptoms that often under-recognized or misdiagnosed leading to progression of low-grade stenosis to complete occlusion if not treated with timely intervention.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Three months post-ablation follow-up cardiac CT scan: (a) Lung window shows normal pulmonary parenchyma. (b and c) 3D reconstruction of left atrium and mediastinal window enhanced CT axial section respectively show left upper pulmonary vein LSPV moderate stenosis (arrows).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a and b) Non-enhanced chest CT scan: lung window (a) shows pleural-based parenchymal consolidation (curved arrow) associated with adjacent subtle ground glass attenuation and interlobular septal thickening (arrow head). Mediastinal window (b) shows left-sided minimal pleural effusion (thin arrow). These pulmonary findings are related to total LSPVO revealed by (c) 3D reconstruction of left atrium (asterisk), note other pulmonary veins patency. (d) Contrast-enhanced CT scan axial section depicts total occlusion of LSPV.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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