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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Direct Pressure Monitoring Accurately Predicts Pulmonary Vein Occlusion During Cryoballoon Ablation
Published on: February 26, 2013
An unusual complication of a pulmonary vein isolation
Kevin A Michael1, Damian P Redfearn, Christopher S Simpson
1Arrhythmia Service, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, FAPC 3, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 2V7.
Abstract:
A 59 year old patient with drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) was referred for a pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). He complained of severe chest pain during the procedure. Subtle ST segment elevation was noted in the high lateral territory (I & aVL). He had no risk factors for coronary artery disease. The event occurred prior to any ablation within the left atrium (LA). He was haemodynamically stable (159/95 mmHg) and a pericardial effusion was excluded with transthoracic echocardiography. A coronary angiogram showed focal occlusion within a distal branch of the 1st diagonal. We discuss possible mechanisms for this unusual complication.
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