ArticleIndian pacing and electrophysiology journal
Clinical utility of oesophageal temperature monitoring in AF ablation: An updated meta-analysis and review of literature.
Article in Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Contemporary use of oesophageal temperature probes during left atrial ablation: results from an EHRA Scientific Initiatives Committee survey.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 · 2026Article
- Successful pulsed field ablation of left atrial roof-dependent atrial tachycardia arising after pericardial esophageal fistula.HeartRhythm case reports · 2026Article
- To monitor, or not to monitor, that is the question.Indian pacing and electrophysiology journalArticle
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10 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can lead to oesophageal thermal injuries (ETI). These are thought to be the precursor of the much rarer but frequently fatal atrio-oesophageal fistulas. Many centers performing AF ablation routinely use oesophageal temperature monitoring (ETM). This meta-analysis aims to determine the utility of ETM in preventing ETI in the context of radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF.
methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase databases and Cochrane registry was performed comparing ETI between ETM and non-ETM strategies in AF ablation. Data on endoscopically determined ETI, AF recurrence, procedure time and ablation time were extracted. Statistical analyses including subgroup and covariate analyses were performed using random effect model in R platform.
resultsETI were similar in both ETM (n = 864) and non- ETM groups (n = 639) (RR 1.04, 95 % CI 0.34-3.23) across 12 studies. AF recurrence was statistically similar in both groups (IRR 0.92, 95 % CI 0.73-1.17) but showed a lower trend in non-ETM group. Ablation time was numerically lower in the ETM group and procedure time was numerically higher trend in the ETM group; but they were not statistically significant. Covariate analysis found that posterior wall ablation power setting, additional linear ablation, BMI, use of GA or prophylactic PPI after ablation had no significant correlation in the incidence of ETI.
conclusionETM was not associated with a reduced incidence of ETI during AF ablation. Evidence supporting the routine use of ETM to reduce the risk of ETI or atrio-oesophageal fistulas is lacking.
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