Right phrenic nerve palsy following transcatheter radiofrequency current atrial fibrillation ablation: Case report
Open Access
- 30 May 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of International Medical Research
- Vol. 47 (7), 3438-3443
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060519849267
Abstract
Phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) is a well-known complication of cardiac surgery or jugular/subclavian vein catheterization, presenting with cough, hiccups, dyspnoea/shortness of breath and, in some cases, ventilatory failure. Rarely, PNP is a complication of transcatheter radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. This report describes the case of a 72-year-old woman with a 2-year history of recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation associated with occasional palpitations and shortness of breath who underwent routine transcatheter radiofrequency ablation. Three days after the procedure, the patient developed shortness of breath and progressive dyspnoea. Motor nerve conduction showed the absence of the right phrenic nerve compound motor action potential compared with the normal left side confirming the diagnosis of a right phrenic nerve palsy. This current case demonstrated the importance of undertaking an electrophysiological evaluation of phrenic nerve conduction after transcatheter radiofrequency ablation in patients presenting with palpitations and shortness of breath even if present a few days after the procedure.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Phrenic nerve palsy after internal jugular venous catheter placementKorean Journal of Anesthesiology, 2012
- Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation2011
- Incidence and management of diaphragmatic palsy in patients after cardiac surgeryIndian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 2008
- Phrenic Nerve Injury After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation2007
- Phrenic Nerve Injury After Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation: Characterization and Outcome in a Multicenter StudyJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2006
- How Close Are the Phrenic Nerves to Cardiac Structures? Implications for Cardiac InterventionalistsJournal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 2005
- Chest radiography cannot predict diaphragm functionRespiratory Medicine, 2004
- Diaphragmatic plication in adult patients with diaphragm paralysis after cardiac surgery.2004
- Unexplained diaphragmatic paralysis: A harbinger of malignant disease?The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1982
- Diaphragm movements and the diagnosis of diaphragmatic paralysisClinical Radiology, 1966