Suspicion of superior mesenteric artery syndrome in a patient with severe gastric dilatation after catheter ablation

Intern Med. 2015;54(6):605-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3276. Epub 2015 Jan 15.

Abstract

Catheter ablation is a widely used treatment for atrial fibrillation. Gastric hypomotility due to periesophageal vagal plexus injury is a consequence of the extracardiac penetration of ablative energy. Some affected patients develop severe gastric dilatation requiring hospitalization. However, most previous reports have stated the cause of the subject's condition to be "unknown" or described the symptoms using obscure terms, such as "paralytic" or "gastroparesis." For example, one report stated that a few sites of severe gastric dilatation were secondary to "pyloric spasms;" however, no illustrations were provided in the paper. "Superior mesenteric artery syndrome" is a suspected cause of such dilatation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
  • Catheter Ablation / adverse effects*
  • Gastric Dilatation / etiology
  • Gastric Dilatation / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome