Korean Circ J.  2008 Mar;38(3):170-173. 10.4070/kcj.2008.38.3.170.

Percutaneous Pulmonary Vein Angioplasty for the Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

• Kim JH
• Shin SY
• Joo HJ
• Choi JI
• Hong SJ
• Pak HN
• Kim YH

• KMID: 2225834
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2008.38.3.170

Abstract

Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the frequent complications. Percutaneous PV angioplasty and stent implantation have been used as an effective therapy for this condition, yet the in-stent restenosis rate tends to increase after stent implantation at the stenotic PVs. This seems to be caused by neointimal hyperplasia within the stent. This is the first case report on using drug-eluting stent for the treatment of pulmonary vein stenosis that developed after RFCA of AF.

Keyword

Pulmonary vein; Stenosis; Stents; Angioplasty

MeSH Terms

Angioplasty
Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation
Catheters
Constriction, Pathologic
Drug-Eluting Stents
Hyperplasia
Pulmonary Veins
Stents

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation. A: three-dimensional spiral computed tomography scan of the PVs and LA before ablation. B: multislice computed tomography of the PVs and LA after ablation shows a total occluded RMPV, RIPV and LIPV. C: a high velocity jet from the LIPV is seen on transesophageal echocardiography. D: selective pulmonary venography on the LIPV. PV: pulmonary vein, LA: left atrium, RMPV: right middle pulmonary vein, RIPV: right inferior pulmonary vein, LIPV: left inferior pulmonary vein.

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  Fig. 2 Treatment of left inferior pulmonary vein stenosis by PV angioplasty and drug-eluting stent implantation. A: the guide catheter is introduced into the left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV) ostium. B: stent placement. C: post-stent pulmonary venography at the LIPV. PV: pulmonary vein.

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