Abstract

Reflux-induced esophagitis might facilitate ablation-induced esophageal lesions (ELs) following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and these may progress to atrio-esophageal fistula (AEF). In contrast, preexisting ELs are not prone to progression but may affect procedure planning. Preprocedural EGD showed abnormalities in 226/399 patients, 15% in the lower third of the esophagus. Half (99/226) were relevant for PVI, 13 procedures were postponed, 6 due to pathological EGD results. A third of the patients with new esophageal injury following ablation had preexisting esophagitis which was associated with a trend for a higher incidence of ELs after RF-ablation, and a six- and two-fold higher rate of food retention after CB-PVI and RF ablation, respectively.