Gastroparesis as a Complication of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.

Percutaneous catheter ablation is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF). Gastroparesis is a little known complication of AF ablation. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of gastroparesis in the patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF by cryoballoon (CB) or radiofrequency (RF) and to define risk factors for gastroparesis. In all, 104 patients were treated with pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with 2 different technologies: CB in 58 patients (group 1) and open-irrigated tip RF catheter in 46 patients (group 2). Gastroparesis was seen in 7 cases (6 cases in group 1 and 1 case in group 2, respectively). The complaints related with gastroparesis began during the procedure in 4 of 6 patients of group 1. The other 3 patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with similar complaints within 72 to 96 hours after the procedure. For gastroparesis cases of group 1, mean minimal CB temperature on inferior PVs was lower and left atrium diameter was smaller. Management was conservative, and the patients have no residual symptoms at 6-month follow-up. The only patient still demonstrating residual symptoms during follow-up was in group 2. Although, clinically manifest gastroparesis is quite common with CB ablation, the process is generally reversible. However, damage may not be as reversible with RF ablation. In conclusion, during cryoablation, lower temperatures on inferior PVs and small left atrium size may be associated with increased risk of gastroparesis, and fluoroscopic guidance may be useful to avoid this complication.