ArticleNeurogastroenterology and motility2017
Upper gastrointestinal complications following ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation.
Article in Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- European Guideline on Chronic Nausea and Vomiting-A UEG and ESNM Consensus for Clinical Management.United European gastroenterology journal · 2025Guideline
- Natural language processing with machine learning methods to analyze unstructured patient-reported outcomes derived from electronic health records: A systematic review.Artificial intelligence in medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Randomized comparison of oesophageal protection with a temperature control device: results of the IMPACT study.Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · 2021Trial
- Secretin effects on gastric functions, hormones and symptoms in functional dyspepsia and health: randomized crossover trial.American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology · 2020Trial
- Pharmacologic treatments for gastroparesis.Pharmacological reviews · 2025Review
- Severe Diarrhea After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and The Role of Vagal Plexus: A Case Series.Anatolian journal of cardiology · 2025Article
- From Fluttering Hearts to Restless Stomach: Navigating Atrial Fibrillation, Ablation and Gastroparesis.European journal of case reports in internal medicine · 2025Article
- Atrial fibrillation gut syndrome: severe gastroparesis with pyloric spasm following radiofrequency catheter ablation of drug resistant symptomatic atrial fibrillation: a case report.Journal of medical case reports · 2023Article
- Unusual esophageal injury after atrial fibrillation ablation: Early diagnosis and treatment to optimize outcomes.HeartRhythm case reports · 2022Article
- Gastroparesis.Gastroenterology · 2022Review
- Anatomical evaluation of the esophagus using computed tomography to predict acute gastroparesis following atrial fibrillation ablation.Journal of arrhythmia · 2021Article
- Relationship of motor mechanisms to gastroparesis symptoms: toward individualized treatment.American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology · 2021Article
- Atrial fibrillation ablation-induced gastroparesis: A case report and literature review.HeartRhythm case reports · 2020Article
- Innovations in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology: Challenges and Upcoming Solutions in 2018 and Beyond.The Journal of innovations in cardiac rhythm management · 2017Review
- Triple gastrointestinal prophylactic therapy following high-power short-duration posterior left atrial wall ablation.Indian heart journalArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFollowing ablation therapy for cardiac arrhythmias, patients may develop upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms. The vagus nerve is close to the atria and may be affected by ablating energy.
aimTo identify structural or functional complications in UGI tract following ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and clinical outcomes and association with vagal dysfunction.
methodsUsing natural language processing of electronic medical records and an AF ablation database of 5380 patients treated during 17 years, we identified 40 patients with UGI complications. We evaluated vagal dysfunction by electrocardiogram (ECG) showing lack of sinus arrhythmia (variation in R-R interval by ≥120 milliseconds, in presence of normal sinus P waves and constant P-R interval). KEY
resultsAmong 40 patients: (A) eight had structural GI complications confirmed by diagnostic tests: seven with esophageal ulcer/erosions and no signs of UGI bleeding and one developed esophagopericardial fistula (and survived with treatment); (B) 15 had functional UGI complications confirmed by objective motility tests. Nine had newly developed symptoms and six had aggravated symptoms; and (C) the remaining 17 had GI symptoms without relevant diagnostic results. Most UGI issues resolved spontaneously or with conservative treatment. However, 2 died several weeks after ablation procedure; cause of death was suspected atrioesophageal fistula or esophageal rupture. Vagal dysfunction persisted for 3 months in 13 and was transient in 8. CONCLUSIONS/INFERENCES: Although most GI issues resolved spontaneously, there should be a high index of clinical suspicion in patients with persistent symptoms. Vagal dysfunction may serve as a marker of more extensive tissue damage.
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Registered trials
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