Avoiding oesophageal injury during cardiac ablation: insights gained from mediastinal anatomy

ConclusionMediastinal anatomy, specifically the presence of a loose connective tissue that attaches the oesophagus to the parietal pericardium overlying the posterior LA wall will allow for a lateral displacement of the oesophagus. This should decrease or eliminate the likelihood of thermal injury of the oesophagus. Using an endotracheal stylet, we investigated the lateral displacement of the oesophagus in 11 human cadavers. In six with the stylet extending to the GE junction, the oesophagus was displaced a mean of 3.8  cm. In five, with stylet 4 cm cranial to the junction, the displacement was 4.56 cm.
Source: Europace - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research