Cryo Nerve Block Therapy helps relieve post-surgical pain by freezing the nerves in the chest beneath each rib. These nerves are one of the main sources of pain after chest surgery. 

Cryo Nerve Block works by temporarily blocking pain signals, which is like shutting off the nerve. After your surgery, you will have a feeling of numbness — which means a lot less pain. The numbness sensation will slowly go away over several months during the healing process.

How does Cryo Nerve Block work?

Your nerve has two main parts: an outer protective structure and the nerve fibers inside that sense and send pain signals to the brain. Cryo Nerve Block prevents these signals from being sent to the brain by freezing the nerve at a specific temperature, which disables it without damaging the outer protective structure.

As you recover, the nerve will regrow over several months and normal feeling in your chest will gradually return. With this therapy, you may be able to engage in light activities, cough, and breathe deeply without experiencing pain.

What type of procedures can Cryo Nerve Block be used for?

Cryo Nerve Block is most commonly used during surgical procedure involving the chest wall. These types of procedures include but are not limited to the following:

What are some of the other methods that may be available for pain management?

• Epidural analgesia
• Spinal anesthesia
• Intravenous/Oral pain medication
  • Opioids/Narcotics
  • NSAID
• Local anesthetic block
• Paravertebral block

A Long-Lasting Treatment

After receiving Cryo Nerve Block, you should begin feeling numbness in your chest within a few days. The numbness may last for several months as the nerve regrows 1-2 mm per day. As the numbness fades, feelings of fullness or swelling will eventually give way to tingling, itching, or other sensations.

With Cryo Nerve Block, you’ll be trading pain for the feeling of numbness.

What else do I need to know about Cryo Nerve Block?

AtriCure’s cryoICE cryoSPHERE cryoablation probes are sterile, single use devices intended for use in blocking pain by temporarily ablating peripheral nerves.

Potential procedural complications include, but are not limited to: Pneumothorax, Hypoalgesia, Hyperalgesia, Allodynia, and prolonged numbness greater than 3 months.

If you were to experience these symptoms, please contact your physician team and seek medical attention.

This information is not comprehensive. Talk to your health care provider or visit AtriCure.com 'Product Labeling' to view the Instructions for Use for a complete listing of contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential adverse events.