[Pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation: a case report]

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is characterized by the stenosis of one or more pulmonary veins leading to progressive dyspnea, cough, and hemoptysis. Currently, iatrogenic PVS is the most common type of PVS in adults, mainly due to the increased popularity of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Due to the lack of specific clinical manifestations in the early stages and the absence of routine imaging surveillance after radiofrequency ablation, the diagnosis of PVS is challenging in clinical practice. This paper reports a case of a patient with PVS who had several visits to the respiratory department for non-specific symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, and hemoptysis, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. We hope that the discussion of this case would improve the clinicians' awareness of PVS following radiofrequency ablation.