Endocarditis, hemiparesis, and upper GI bleeding 4 weeks after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation

The Way to Man's Heart Is through the Stomach

“…It can present up to 5 weeks following the culpable procedure, 25 and subsequently can be misdiagnosed as infective endocarditis, 26 which may be an associated feature, along with upper GI bleeding, and septic or air cerebral embolism. 27 Less severe but nevertheless debilitating complications of RFA involve injury to the periesophageal nerve complex, resulting in gastric hypomotility and pyloric spasms. Depending on the severity of the thermal injury, patients may be treated with proton pump inhibitors, or urgent imaging and referral to a tertiary center with cardiothoracic and upper GI surgical care.…”