title: [Phrenic nerve identification with cardiac multidetector computed tomography].
abstract: Cryoballoon ablation of the pulmonary veins is a new technique that has proven useful in preventing paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation recurrence. One of the most serious complications of this method is right phrenic nerve palsy. The usefulness of multidetector computed tomography to locate the right phrenic nerve and artery and predict the risk of phrenic nerve palsy during cryoablation according to the distance between the right phrenic neurovascular bundle and the right superior pulmonary vein ostium has recently been described. Fifty-five consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (52 ± 12 years) underwent balloon cryoablation, following multidetector computed tomography to measure the pulmonary veins. We were able to identify segments of the right pericardiacophrenic artery (mean length 25 mm [range 7-68 mm]) in only 10 patients (20%).
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, España. jnieto1980@hotmail.com
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieto-Tolosa
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sánchez
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hurtado-Martínez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinar-Bermúdez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peñafiel-Verdú
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Muñoz
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdés-Chávarri
authors.forename: Arcadio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Alberola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies