Phrenic nerve lesion: A potential complication of the nMARQ ablation technique

Abstract

We report a case of phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) secondary to an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure with the nMARQ catheter. A 50year-old male known for paroxysmal AF for a few years, increasing in frequency and becoming more symptomatic, benefited from the procedure in January 2014. A total of 22 RF applications were necessary to isolate the pulmonary veins, with only 3 applications on the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) antrum (Fig. 1A and B). Each application was made using a constant 15watt (W) power for 40s, and no complication was noted during the procedure.