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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Esophageal-Pericardial and Esophageal-Atrial Fistulae
Jacqueline M Soegaard Ballester1, John C Kucharczuk1
1Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 4th Floor Silverstein, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Fistulae between the esophagus and the pericardium or the left atrium are rare but feared complications of transcatheter ablations and esophageal procedures and pathologies. Patients may present variably with cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, infectious, and/or neurologic symptoms; a high index of suspicion is paramount. The presence of atrial involvement will dictate the approach and extent of the necessary intervention. While mortality is high overall, surgical repair confers the highest likelihood of survival.
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