Post-ablation Dyspnea a Case Report to Highlight the Differential Diagnoses

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Post-cardiac ablation syndrome can present with chest pain, mimicking other conditions.
• Atrial fibrillation ablation is a common procedure, increasing the incidence of related complications.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old man developed severe chest pain and dyspnea post-atrial fibrillation ablation.
• Initial diagnostics revealed mild troponin T elevation and right hemidiaphragm elevation, with no significant ECG changes.
• Echocardiography showed minimal pericardial effusion; a sniff test ruled out diaphragmatic paralysis.

Findings:

• The patient was diagnosed with post-cardiac ablation pericarditis.
• Symptoms resolved with conservative management, including NSAIDs and colchicine.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering pericarditis in post-ablation chest pain.
• Non-invasive diagnostic tools are valuable in the appropriate clinical context for managing these symptoms.
• Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to symptom resolution and prevent complications.