Left Upper Lobectomy for Pulmonary Vein Occlusion After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

A 64-year-old man complained of recurrent bloody sputum 6 months after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed left upper pulmonary vein occlusion. Due to challenges in revascularization, lung resection was performed. Although extensive adhesions were observed around the pulmonary hilum and pleura, a left upper lobectomy was successfully performed using a video thoracoscopic approach. The patient had no postoperative complaints. Pathologic findings showed irreversible lung damage, including lung fibrosis and intimal thickening of pulmonary blood vessels. These results indicate that resection is more appropriate than revascularization at the chronic phase of complete pulmonary vein occlusion.