Journal article

The Transesophageal Echo Probe May Contribute to Esophageal Injury after Catheter Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation under General Anesthesia: A Preliminary Observation

S Kumar, G Brown, F Sutherland, J Morgan, D Andrews, LH Ling, AJA McLellan, G Lee, T Robinson, P Heck, K Halloran, J Morton, P Kistler, JM Kalman, PB Sparks

Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2015

Abstract

TEE Probe and Esophageal Injury After AF Ablation Introduction The transesophageal echo probe (TEE) is commonly used before and during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation under general anesthesia (GA). We sought to determine the potential contribution of the TEE probe to esophageal injury after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone for paroxysmal AF. Methods and Results Seventy-six patients undergoing PVI with TEE, PVI/TEE, 16 undergoing PVI without TEE (PVI/No TEE), and 27 undergoing TEE without any left atrial ablation (TEE/No LA ablation) under GA were included. Posterior wall ablation was power (20-25 W) and time limited (electrogram attenuation or ≤30 s). Esophageal capsule endoscopy (n = ..

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Grants

Awarded by National Heart Foundation of Australia


Funding Acknowledgements

Professor Kalman is the recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Practitioner Fellowship. Dr. Kumar is the recipient of a postgraduate research scholarship co-funded by the NHMRC and the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Scholarship ID 628996). Associate Professor Kistler is supported by a practitioner fellowship from the NHMRC. This research is supported in part by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Funding. Pill Cam inventory used for this study was partially funded by Given Imaging. All supporting equipment was provided by Given Imaging. Given Imaging had no influence on data presented or conclusions of this manuscript.Dr. Morton reports participation on a research grant supported by St. Jude Medical. Other authors: No disclosures.