title: Epicardial ablation: prevention of phrenic nerve damage by pericardial injection of saline and the use of a steerable sheath.
abstract: Because of the close proximity of the phrenic nerve to the pericardium, phrenic nerve damage caused by epicardial ablation can easily occur. We report two cases of epicardial VT ablation where pericardial injection of saline, combined with the use of a steerable sheath, successfully prevents the phrenic nerve from being damaged.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Rhythmology, Klinik fur Innere Medizin 1, Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kars
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Thorax Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Armenta
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Thorax Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia Section, Cardiology Department, Thorax Institute, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruezo
keywords: Ablation; epicardium; pericardium; phrenic nerve; saline; steerable sheath