Transatrial management of inadvertent puncture of the posterior wall during transseptal access for atrial fibrillation ablation: technical report

Abstract

Transseptal puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation is a safe and common procedure. However, complications, such as cardiac tamponade, may be fatal if not recognized and treated. Our goal is to report a bailout strategy, by which management of an inadvertent puncture of the posterior wall of the left atrium was possible. It was followed by successful pulmonary vein isolation, without the need for subsequent subxiphoid puncture.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Complications and management; Transseptal puncture.