ST segment elevation and chest pain during cryoablation of atrial flutter

Abstract

A 61-year-old male was treated with cryoablation for typical atrial flutter. Cryoablation was performed percutaneously with an 8-mm tip catheter to achieve a bidirectional conduction block of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus. When freezing at the point where bidirectional isthmus block occurred, the patient experienced chest pain and ECG showed ST segment elevations corresponding to the right coronary artery. Cryoablation may be painless per se, but patients should be told to report chest discomfort and surface ECG must be followed carefully during ablation.