Contemporary analysis of phrenic nerve injuries following cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation: A single-centre experience with the systematic use of compound motor action potential monitoring

BACKGROUND: Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) remains one of the most frequent complications during cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (CB-PVI). Since its introduction in 2013, the use of compound motor action potential (CMAP) for the prevention of PNI during CB-PVI is increasing; however, systematic outcome data are sparse.

METHODS: The CMAP technique was applied in conjunction with abdominal palpation during pacing manoeuvres (10 mV, 2 ms) from the superior vena cava for 388 consecutive patients undergoing CB-PVI between January 2015 and May 2017 at our tertiary arrhythmia centre. Cryoablation was immediately terminated when CMAP amplitude was reduced by 30%.

RESULTS: Reductions in CMAP amplitude were observed in 16 (4%) of 388 patients during isolation of the right veins. Of these, 11 (69%) patients did not manifest a reduction in diaphragmatic excursions. The drop in CMAP amplitude was observed in 10 (63%) patients during ablation of the right superior pulmonary veins (PVs) and in 7 (44%) patients during ablation of the right inferior PVs. Postprocedural persistent PNI was observed in three of four patients for a duration of 6 months, with one of these patients remaining symptomatic at the 24-month follow-up. One of the four patients was lost to long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: All PNIs occurred during right-sided CB-PVI and were preceded by a reduction in CMAP amplitude. Thus, the standardized use of CMAP surveillance during CB-PVI is easily applicable, reliable and compared with other studies, results in a lower number of PNIs.