[Pulmonary vein stenosis after radio frequency ablation]

Physicians should be alert to the occurrence of respiratory symptoms after radio frequency ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Pulmonary veins stenosis could appear with an incidence of between 1 and 3% during the two years following the procedure. We present the case of a 41 year-old-male patient admitted with a three weeks old hemoptysis and thoracodinia and a prior history of a radiofrequency ablation procedure performed six months earlier. The angiotomography was not compatible with the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and the angio-MRI detected hypoperfusion of the left upper pulmonary lobe. Consequently pulmonary veins angiotomography was requested, showing upper pulmonary lobe vein stenosis. An hemodynamic study with vein expansion and stent placement was successfully performed.