Anyone with experience with Phrenic Nerve Paralysis after Abalation

[Pingli]

I had an abalation 10 days ago for Afib/flutter and SVT. Unfortunately, my phrenic nerve was damaged by the cryoballoon and I now have right diaphram paralysis. Feels ok at rest, but short of breath on exertion and having some aching in my neck on the affected side. The EP says that most resolve in a week to a year. Has anyone had this and what was it like. Did it resolve gradually? any signs of healing? Was there anything you did to help symptoms, lung function? Any advice would be appreciated.

[CDreamer]

I haven’t but remember seeing several posts about this subject - this is one thread which you may find of interest about phrenic nerve damage following ablation.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[Fastbeat]

Yes same happened to me 2017,gradually got better was called for further xrays to check its progress,eventually just healed its self,no long term damage that i am aware of.

[Ppiman]

I worried about this. Bad luck for suffering this way. I gather your EP is right so all should be well once it heals. I think we fail to realise that our anatomies inside are all different and that the phrenic nerve, the pulmonary veins, the oesophagus and the heart wall thickness itself all pose difficulties for the cardiologist EP doing the procedure.

Steve

[MarkS]

The EP is probably inexperienced. A more experienced EP would have identified that the affected PV had too large a diameter so the balloon went in too far. That vein should have been treated with RF.

[Jacnc in reply to MarkS]

The vein should have been treated with what??

[MarkS in reply to Jacnc]

There are two types of ablation, cryo as you had and RF (Radio Frequency). I had my PV's treated with a cryo balloon but one of the PVs was too large so that was treated with RF.

[Jacnc in reply to MarkS]

Thanks

[Jacnc]

I currently have the same thing from the same cause ! It has been almost 3 months with no change.I am on 4 liters continuous oxygen and ventilator at night.

I am pretty much home bound as I can’t find a portable small oxygen that can give me continuous flow of 4 liters.

I just started pulmonary rehab to try to build up strength and confidence .

I was in icu step down for two weeks after the ablation .

It has been a pretty crumby summer.

Doctors are telling me 5 months to two years.,, I sure hope not !

What is being done for you, and where are you located?

[Pingli in reply to Jacnc]

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you're having a rougher time. I am in Colorado. They haven't offered any treatment, just waiting. It limits my exercise options and I worry about getting any respiratory infections. We have a lot of smoke from wildfires and it causes coughing. I would like to have a respiratory therapy program if this is going to last months or a year. Would like to increase lung capacity on the good side. Hope the pulmonary rehab is helpful. Let me know.