Objectives
Percutaneous catheter ablation is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF). Gastroparesis is a little known complication of AF ablation. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of gastroparesis in the patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF by cryoballoon or radiofrequency (RF) and to define risk factors for gastroparesis.
Methods-Results
Seventy-four patients (mean age 56.2+12.1 years, 51% male) with symptomatic paroxysmal AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation with two different ablation techniques: Cryoballoon in 58 patients (Group 1), open-irrigated tip RF catheter in 16 patients (Group 2). The baseline characteristics of the patients did not differ among groups. The incidence of gastroparesis was 9.4% (7/74). Gastroparesis was seen in 6 patients in group 1 and 1 patient in group 2. Four of 7 patients complained of epigastric discomfort, abdominal pain, and heartburn during the procedure. The other 3 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with similar complaints within 72-96 hours after the procedure. Mean minimal cryoballoon temperature in inferior pulmonary veins (IPVs) was lower (in the left IPV -55.3±4.8 °C vs -47.2±2.7 °C, p<0.0001, in the right IPV -50.3±1.5 °C vs -44.8±3.3 °C, p<0.0001) and left atrium (LA) diameter was smaller (36.8±1.9 mm vs 41.9±4.6 mm, p=0.002) in patients with gastroparesis than without gastroparesis. Management was conservative and the patients have no residual symptoms at 6 months follow-up.
Methods-Results
Seventy-four patients (mean age 56.2+12.1 years, 51% male) with symptomatic paroxysmal AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation with two different ablation techniques: Cryoballoon in 58 patients (Group 1), open-irrigated tip RF catheter in 16 patients (Group 2). The baseline characteristics of the patients did not differ among groups. The incidence of gastroparesis was 9.4% (7/74). Gastroparesis was seen in 6 patients in group 1 and 1 patient in group 2. Four of 7 patients complained of epigastric discomfort, abdominal pain, and heartburn during the procedure. The other 3 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with similar complaints within 72-96 hours after the procedure. Mean minimal cryoballoon temperature in inferior pulmonary veins (IPVs) was lower (in the left IPV -55.3±4.8 °C vs -47.2±2.7 °C, p<0.0001, in the right IPV -50.3±1.5 °C vs -44.8±3.3 °C, p<0.0001) and left atrium (LA) diameter was smaller (36.8±1.9 mm vs 41.9±4.6 mm, p=0.002) in patients with gastroparesis than without gastroparesis. Management was conservative and the patients have no residual symptoms at 6 months follow-up.
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