TY - JOUR T1 - Lessons of the month 1: Fatal oesophago-pericardial fistula with cerebral air embolism after elective atrial fibrillation ablation JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 331 LP - 333 DO - 10.7861/clinmedicine.19-4-331 VL - 19 IS - 4 AU - Jonathan Dutton AU - Marco Morosin AU - Rita Fernandez-Garda AU - Vladamir Anikin AU - Ana Hurtado-Doce AU - Nicholas Lees Y1 - 2019/07/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/19/4/331.abstract N2 - Oesophago-pericardial fistula following any electrophysiological procedure is a rare, and potentially, life-threatening condition. Initial presentation can easily be misdiagnosed, as symptoms vary and are not specific. Echocardiography is an invaluable tool to diagnose and rule out complications. We present the case of a 68-year-old patient who developed an oesophago-pericardial fistula complicated with purulent pericarditis, sepsis and cerebral air embolism. In conclusion, this case report encourages physicians to use strategies that may help with early diagnosis and lead to potential lifesaving interventions. ER -