Key result
Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation resulted in a 4.2% incidence of phrenic nerve injury, with 97.0% of cases recovering within 12 months and only 0.06% experiencing permanent symptomatic PNI.
Why the study?
Phrenic nerve injury is the most frequent complication during cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation, but data on it are scarce.
Population
17 356 patients undergoing cryoballoon-based PVI across 33 centers in 10 countries
Comparison
Patients with phrenic nerve injury during CB2, CB3, or CB4-based PVI
Design
Retrospective multicenter multinational registry
Follow-up
12 months
Authors
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Reassures on transient PNI after cryoballoon PVI; extends registry data but leaves open need for prospective confirmation.
Observational (n=17,356)
Yes
Phrenic nerve injury is a known complication of cryoballoon PVI occurring in 4.2% of patients, but recovery is highly likely (97% at 12 months) and permanent symptomatic injury is exceedingly rare.
Heeger et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation (n=17,356). Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation was evaluated on Incidence of phrenic nerve injury (PNI). Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation resulted in a 4.2% incidence of phrenic nerve injury, with 97.0% of cases recovering within 12 months and only 0.06% experiencing permanent symptomatic PNI.
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