Successful Treatment of a Patient with Hepatic Portal Vein Gas after Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation is one of the main treatments for atrial fibrillation, but related complications of this surgery are uncommon.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we report a 70-year-old elderly male patient with atrial fibrillation who experienced severe abdominal pain early after undergoing radiofrequency ablation; related imaging examinations suggested that the patient had intestinal edema and thickening, combined with hepatic portal vein gas accumulation. The reason was that the patient experienced intestinal necrosis due to superior mesenteric artery embolism related to radiofrequency surgery. The surgeon suggested laparotomy for exploration. However, after multidisciplinary consideration, we ultimately chose conservative treatment. After fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, spasmolysis, pain relief, somatostatin inhibition of intestinal edema, antiinfection, and anticoagulation, the patient's condition improved, and he was discharged. We followed the patient for 1 month after discharge, and there was no special discomfort.

CONCLUSION

Hepatoportal vein gas accumulation after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation is rare, and imaging findings have important guiding significance for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.