Phrenic nerve stimulation in cardiac resynchronization therapy

Abstract

In cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), the electrical impulse delivered by the left ventricular (LV) lead may incidentally cause phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS). The purpose of this state-of-the-art review is to describe the frequency, risk factors, and clinical consequences of PNS and to present the most recent options to successfully manage PNS. PNS occurs in 2 to 37% of implanted patients and is not always detected in the supine position during implantation. Lateral and posterior veins are at higher risk of PNS than anterior veins, and apical positions are at higher risk of PNS than basal positions. The management of PNS discovered during implantation may include mapping the course of the target vein in order to find a PNS-free site, targeting another vein if available, and pacing with alternative configurations before changing the lead location. Non-invasive options for management of post-operative PNS depend on the difference between PNS and LV stimulation thresholds and include reducing the LV pacing output, automatic determination of LV stimulation threshold and minimal output delivery by the device, increasing the pulse duration, and electronic repositioning. New quadripolar leads allow to pace from different cathodes, and the multiple pacing configurations available have proved superior to bipolar leads in mitigating PNS. This electronic repositioning addresses almost all of the clinically relevant PNS and should markedly reduce the need for invasive lead repositioning or CRT abandon, which is actually the last option for 2% of patients.