Case report: paravalvular leak as a complication of percutaneous catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

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2014
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An increasing number of reports reveal the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
therapy even in patients with a history of prosthetic heart valve. This case report presents a 60 year old
female patient who had a prosthetic mitral paravalvular leak as a complication of radiofrequency ablation. Surgery revealed a 15 mm hole and three broken knots in the posterolateral mitral annulus. This report demonstrates radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with prosthetic mitral valve may cause a paravalvular leak likely as a result of thermal injury. Moreover, patient can be asymptomatic at first. The clinician should keep in mind such complication and the patient should be Evaluated in terms of paravalvular leakage.