PULMONARY VEIN STENOSIS AFTER CATHETER ABLATION OF ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION

Background-This report describes the complication of pulmonary vein st enosis with resultant severe pulmonary hypertension that developed in 2 patients after successful catheter ablation of chronic atrial fibril lation. Methods and Results-Three months after successful catheter abl ation of atrial fibrillation, both patients developed progressive dysp nea and pulmonary hypertension. Both were found to have severe stenosi s of all 4 pulmonary veins near the junction with the left atrium. Bal loon dilation of the stenotic pulmonary veins was performed in these p atients, with improvement in dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension. Concl usions-The complication of pulmonary vein stenosis is potentially life -threatening, and the application of radiofrequency current within the pulmonary veins with standard catheter technology should be avoided. This complication can be treated with balloon dilation, although the l ong-term course is unknown.