July 30, 2012
View Full PaperLeft Phrenic Nerve Injury during Cryoballoon Ablation of the Left Superior Pulmonary Vein
Key Result
Cryoballoon ablation of the left superior pulmonary vein can result in left-sided phrenic nerve injury, a complication typically associated with right-sided ablation.
Study Design
Type
Case Report (n=1)
Structured PICO
P
Population
A case report of a patient with symptomatic atrial fibrillation undergoing cryoballoon ablation of the left superior pulmonary vein.
I
Intervention
Cryoballoon ablation of the left superior pulmonary vein
O
Outcome
Left-sided phrenic nerve injurysafety
Cryoballoon ablation of the left superior pulmonary vein can be complicated by left-sided phrenic nerve injury, expanding the known complication profile beyond right-sided injury.
Abstract
Transcatheter ablation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) has been established as a therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Cryothermal energy is an alternative energy source that has been developed to overcome some of the disadvantages of radiofrequency ablation. The major complication of the cryoballoon technique seems to be right-sided phrenic nerve injury (PNI) following ablation of the right superior PV. This case report describes a left-sided PNI after cryoballoon ablation of the left superior PV.