Esophageal positions relative to the left atrium; data from 293 patients before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

STÁREK, Zdeněk, František LEHAR, Jiří JEŽ, Martin ŠČUREK, Jiří WOLF, Tomáš KULÍK and Alena ŽBÁNKOVÁ. Esophageal positions relative to the left atrium; data from 293 patients before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Indian Heart Journal. Kolkata: Cardiological Society of India, vol. 70, No 1, p. 37-44. ISSN 0019-4832. doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2017.06.013. 2018.

Basic information

• Original name: Esophageal positions relative to the left atrium; data from 293 patients before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
• Authors: STÁREK, Zdeněk (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), František LEHAR (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jiří JEŽ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Martin ŠČUREK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jiří WOLF (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš KULÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Alena ŽBÁNKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Indian Heart Journal, Kolkata, Cardiological Society of India, 2018, 0019-4832.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30201 Cardiac and Cardiovascular systems
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/18:00103133
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2017.06.013
• UT WoS: 000487586200008
• Keywords in English: al angiography of the left atrium and esophagus; Atrioesophageal fistula; Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation; Image integration; Position of esophagus to the left atrium; Shortterm mobility of the esophagus
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) of the left atrium (LA) and the esophagus is a simple and safe method for analyzing the relationship between the esophagus and the LA during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this study is to describe the location of the esophagus relative to the LA and mobility of the esophagus during ablation procedure. METHODS: From 3/2011 to 9/2015, 3DRA of the LA and esophagus was performed in 326 patients before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. 3DRAwas performed with visualization of the esophagus via peroral administration of a contrast agent. The positions of the esophagus were determined at the beginning of the procedure, for part of patients also at the end of procedure with contrast esophagography. RESULTS: The most frequent position is behind the center of the LA (91 pts., 31.9%) The least frequent position is behind the right pulmonary veins (27 pts., 9.4%). The average shift of the esophagus position was 3.36+/-2.15mm, 3.59+/-2.37mm and 3.67+/-3.23mm for superior, middle and inferior segment resp. CONCLUSIONS: The position of the esophagus to the LA is highly variable. The most common position of the esophagus relative to the LA is behind the middle and left part of the posterior wall of the LA. The least frequently observed position is behind the right pulmonary veins. No significant position change of esophagus motion from before to after the ablation procedure in the majority of the patients was observed.