Delayed tamponade triggering Dressler’s syndrome after pulmonary vein isolation

Abstract

Percutaneous catheter ablation is now a well-established, efficient and effective treatment strategy for recurrent, symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Major complications though occur in up to 5.9% of procedures. New complications still continue to emerge. Delayed tamponade is only recently recognized as a major complication after ablation. We present a 68-year-old female patient who develops cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis 12 days after AF ablation. Subsequently, the tamponade triggers a Dressler syndrome with repetitive pleural effusions only adequately responsive to corticosteroids.