Atrio-esophageal fistula

Case contributed by Kamil Abu-Shaban , 28 Jul 2021
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Kamil Abu-Shaban, 22 Feb 2022

Updates to Case Attributes

Body was changed:

This patient presented to the emergency department one-month post-radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with a positive COVID-19 test and hematemesishaematemesis. Chest x-ray was positive for bilateral infiltrates. GI was consulted for “COVID-19 GI Bleed” and an EGDOGD was performed to evaluate the hematemesishaematemesis. The patient passed away from widespread air emboli in the brain. CT detected an atrio-esophageal-oesophageal fistula as a complication of the radiofrequency ablation. Widespread systemic air emboli were likely introduced through the fistula during EGDOGD.

Case contributed by: Kamil Abu-Shaban, Xiaochen Liu MD & Bruce Siders DO.

  • -<p>This patient presented to the emergency department one-month post-radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with a positive COVID-19 test and hematemesis. Chest x-ray was positive for bilateral infiltrates. GI was consulted for “COVID-19 GI Bleed” and an EGD was performed to evaluate the hematemesis. The patient passed away from widespread air emboli in the brain. CT detected an atrio-esophageal fistula as a complication of the radiofrequency ablation. Widespread systemic air emboli were likely introduced through the fistula during EGD.</p><p>Case contributed by: Kamil Abu-Shaban, Xiaochen Liu MD &amp; Bruce Siders DO.</p>
  • +<p>This patient presented to the emergency department one-month post-radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation with a positive COVID-19 test and haematemesis. Chest x-ray was positive for bilateral infiltrates. GI was consulted for “COVID-19 GI Bleed” and an OGD was performed to evaluate the haematemesis. The patient passed away from widespread air emboli in the brain. CT detected an atrio-oesophageal fistula as a complication of the radiofrequency ablation. Widespread systemic air emboli were likely introduced through the fistula during OGD.</p><p>Case contributed by: Kamil Abu-Shaban, Xiaochen Liu MD &amp; Bruce Siders DO.</p>

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