# Assessment of Esophageal Shifts during Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using Intracardiac Ultrasound Integrated with 3-Dimensional Electroanatomical Mapping System

## TL;DR

This study shows that combining ultrasound with 3D mapping can track esophageal shifts during heart ablation, helping reduce the risk of serious complications.

## Contribution

The study introduces a method to assess esophageal movement during ablation using integrated imaging systems.

## Key findings

- Most esophagi moved away from ablated sites, with median shifts of 2.8 mm after left PVI and 2.0 mm after right PVI.
- In 25% of patients, the esophagus shifted more than 5 mm after left PVI, up to 13.4 mm in one case.
- Repeated visualization of the esophagus during the procedure is recommended to prevent injury.

## Abstract

Purpose: Atrioesophageal fistula is one of the most feared complications of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) as it is associated with high mortality. Determining the esophagus location during RFCA might reduce the risk of esophageal injury. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using intracardiac echocardiography integrated into a 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system (ICE/3D EAM) for the assessment of esophageal position and shifts in response to ablation. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 20 patients that underwent RFCA of AF under conscious analgosedation. The virtual anatomy of the left atrium, the pulmonary vein (PV) ostia, and the esophagus was created with ICE/3D EAM. The esophageal positions were obtained at the beginning of the procedure and then after left and right PV isolation (PVI). Esophageal shifts were measured offline after the procedure using the tools available in the 3D EAM system. Results: Most esophagi moved away from the ablated PV ostia. After the left PVI, the median of the shifts was 2.8 mm (IQR 1.0–6.3). In 25% of patients, the esophagus shifted by >5.0 mm (max. 13.4 mm). After right PVI, the median of shifts was 2.0 mm (IQR 0.7–4.9). In 10% of patients, the esophageal shift was >5.0 mm (max. 7.8 mm). Conclusions: ICE/3D EAM enables the intraprocedural visualization of baseline esophageal position and its shifts after PVI. The shifts are variable, but they tend to be small and directed away from the ablation site. Repeated intraprocedural visualization of the esophagus may be needed to reduce the risk of esophageal injury.