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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Cooling or Warming the Esophagus to Reduce Esophageal Injury During Left Atrial Ablation in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: March 15, 2020
[Severe oesophagus injury as a complication during treatment with risedronic acid]
A Bijlsma1, H Blokzijl, J Vecht
1Isala klinieken, afd. Maag-, Darm- en Leverziekten, Postbus 10.400, 8014 GK Zwolle.
Abstract:
A 77-year-old man, treated with risedronic acid to prevent corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis, was admitted to hospital with acute abdominal pain. The patient appeared to have an oesophageal perforation, which was treated with an endoprosthesis. Additional research showed a motility disorder of the oesophagus. Although bisphosphonates are considered a safe medication, the perforation was probably secondary to treatment with an oral bisphosphonate in combination with the motility disorder. Pre-existent gastrointestinal diseases such as motility disorders of the oesophagus occur more frequently among elderly. Therefore it is important to take the increased risk of complications to the gastrointestinal tract into account when prescribing bisphosphonates to these patients.
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