Successful radiofrequency ablation of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation in a patient with esophageal achalasia

A 54-year-old man was referred for ablation of symptomatic drug-refractory long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation. His past medical history was negative for cardiac disease but included a diagnosis of esophageal achalasia. The patient underwent an ablation procedure, guided by barium esophagram, including isolation of the pulmonary veins, ablation of complex fractionated left atrial electrograms recorded on the septal wall and, finally, linear ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus. The ablation procedure was performed with multielectrode ablation catheters using duty-cycled bipolar/unipolar radiofrequency energy. During 6 months of follow-up no recurrences of atrial fibrillation were documented. The reported case demonstrates how an ablation procedure for long-standing persistent AF may be safely performed even in a patient presenting with a achalasia, outlining the mega-esophagus position with a simple barium paste.