• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2018

Evaluation of diaphragm function is challenging because no single test has a high diagnostic yield. We describe ultrasound findings in three cases with acquired unilateral diaphragmatic elevation. These cases confirm that sonographic evaluation is a valid tool for identifying diaphragm dysfunction. In addition, ultrasound measurements of diaphragm thickness and the contractility can be used to determine if a diaphragm is paralyzed and suggest the duration of paralysis (i.e., acute or chronic).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1973

Eventration of the diaphragm is, by definition, abnormally high or elevated position of diaphragm as a result of paralysis, aplasia or atrophy of varing degrees of muscle fibers, and the cause of which may be congenital or acquired. The unbroken continuity of the diaphragm differentiates it from diaphragmatic hernia. The clinical manifestations of the condition, if present, are usually due to the interference of the ventilatory function of the lung and digesive dysfunction due to gastrointestinal distorsion. Treatment consists of surgical repair of the relaxed diaphragm to it`s normal position. A ease of left sided eventuration of the diaphragm, 31 year old officer, was found by chance after traffic accident with chief complaints of hemoptysis and multiple superficial contusions. Routine chest roentgenogram and barium study of the colon revealed moderately elevated left hemidiaphragm with displacement of the splenic flexure of the colon into the left chest. Past history revealed frequent attack of upper respiratory infection and some abnormal condition on his left chest announced by screen cheek of chest X-ray at the time of entrance for his army service 3 years before. Plication of the relaxed diaphragm through left thoracotomy was done and result was excellent as seen on Fig. 5. Cause of eventration of the left hemidiaphragm was due to paralysis of the left phrenic nerve which was tested during thoracotomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.985-990
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• 2003

Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare disease. It is caused by trauma, cardiothoracic surgery, neuromuscular disorders, corvical spondylosis, and infection. A 60 year-old male patient developed bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis after an on-bloc resection of thymic carcinoma which invaded the right upper lobe, pericardium, superior vena cava and innominate vein. Severe respiratory difficulty developed and ventilator weaning was impossible. We performed bilateral diaphragmatic plication. After the operation, satisfactorily ventilator weaning and sleeping in supine position were possible; therefore, we report this case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 1999

Diaphragmatic eventration is a rare disease and is caused by congenital etiology. We operated on a patient who had had preexisting left diaphragmatic eventration which was complicated by a right diaphragmatic paralysis and a persistent respiratory insufficiency due to a traffic accident. This was a very rare case and there has not yet been any case reports worldwide. We were able to abtain good surgical results from plication of left diaphragm in this case and thus report it.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.813-816
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• 2004

The conformation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is frequently difficult, even if radiologic evaluation has been performed. A 37-year old man with multiple trauma was suspicious with diaphragmatic rupture. The diaphragmatic rupture could not be confirmed with chest CT. We decided thoracoscopic operation for diagnosis. Diaphragm was ruptured about 8 cm length involving entering site of phrenic none into diaphragm and diaphragmatic paralysis was combined. We made 5 cm sized working window additionally. Ruptured diaphragm was repaired by continuous suture and plication of diaphragm was performed. Postoperative result was good at chest radiogram after three monthes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2020

Background: Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, a frequent complication of the brachial plexus block performed above the clavicle, is rarely associated with an infraclavicular approach. The costoclavicular brachial plexus block is emerging as a promising infraclavicular approach. However, it may increase the risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis because the proximity to the phrenic nerve is greater than in the classical infraclavicular approach. Methods: This retrospective analysis compared the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis in patients undergoing costoclavicular and supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks. Of 315 patients who underwent brachial plexus block performed by a single anesthesiologist, 118 underwent costoclavicular, and 197 underwent supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Propensity score matching selected 118 pairs of patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, defined as a postoperative elevation of the hemidiaphragm > 20 mm. Factors affecting the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis were also evaluated. Results: Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis was observed in three patients (2.5%) who underwent costoclavicular and 47 (39.8%) who underwent supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks (P < 0.001; odds ratio, 0.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.13). Both the brachial plexus block approach and the injected volume of local anesthetic were significantly associated with hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. Conclusions: The incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is significantly lower with costoclavicular than with supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.298-300
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• 2010

Diaphragmatic paralysis can be demonstrated through diaphragmatic elevation on chest X-ray after thoracic lung surgery or the placement of chest tubing. Additional causes of diaphragmatic paralysis are iatrogenic, mass, atelectasis, etc. For the diagnosis of diaphragmatic paralysis, it required some studies (fluoroscopy, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging). Diaphragmatic hernia of the liver is a rare clinical entity, usually found after trauma in adults. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates requires surgery. Non-traumatic diaphragmatic hernia of the liver in an adult is a rare right-sided diaphragmatic hernia. On developing any symptoms, surgery must be performed. When diaphragmatic hernia is incidentally found in adults without trauma, it is placed under observation for a time period. We diagnosed the diaphragmatic herniation of a right hepatic lobe by 16-slice CT scan without surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 1970

Since the turn of the century there has been a constant search for a satisfactory method of controlling a large intrathoracic space following lobectomy. Primarily these methods consist of thoracoplasty, plombage, and phrenic nerve paralysis which are not completely satisfactory for they may result in loss of chest wall motility or diaphragmatic function. Incising the diaphragm at its periphery and resuturing to the chest wall at a level several rib spaces higher is an effective method of reducing intrathoracic space with minimal interference with pulmonary function. It is of particular value when the anticipated space problem is in the lower part of the thoracic cavity. Five cases are presented in which the diaphragm was peripherally detached and advanced to higher levels. Two cases were following lower lobectomy and three cases were following decortication for chronic empyema in which expansion was not good enough to adequately fill the space. Results in these cases were satisfactory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.290-294
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• 1982

Diaphragmatic eventration is a rare disease, congenital or acquired, high or elevated position of one leaf of the diaphragm muscle, as a result of paralysis, aplasia or atrophy of varying degree of the muscle fibers of the affected side but with no break in the continuity of the muscle. We experienced 3 cases of the diaphragmetic eventration at the department of thoracic surgery, C.A.F.G.H., from 1980 to 1982, which were treated successfully. Among three cases, one case combinded with hamartoma of the ipsilateral lung. Specific complications were not noticed after surgical repair of diaphramatic eventration with good result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.730-735
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• 2002

Diaphragm is innervated by phrenic nerve and lower intercostal nerves. For patients with avulsion injury of brachial plexus, an in situ graft of phrenic nerve is frequently used to neurotize a branch of the brachial plexus. We studied short-term and mid-term changes of diaphragmatic level and movement in patients with dissection of phrenic nerve for neurotization. Material and Method : Thirteen patients with division of either-side phrenic nerve for neurotization of musculocutaneous nerve were included in this study. With endoscopic surgical procedure, the intrathoracic phrenic nerve was entirely dissected and divided just above the diaphragm. The dissected phrenic nerve was taken out through thoracic inlet and neck wound and then anastomosed to the musculocutaneous nerve through a subcutaneous tunnel. With chest films and fluoroscopy, levels and movements of diaphragm were measured before and after operation. Result : There was no specific technical difficulty or even minor postoperative complications following endoscopic division of phrenic nerve. After division of phrenic nerve, diaphragm was soon elevated about 1.7 intercostal spaces compared with the preoperative level, but it did not show paradoxical motion in fluoroscopy. More than 1.5 months later, diaphragm returned downward close to the preoperative level (average level difference was 0.9 intercostal spaces; p＝NS). Movement of diaphragm was not significantly decreased compared with the preoperative one. Conclusion : After division of phrenic nerve, the affected diaphragm did not show a significant decrease in movement, and the elevated diaphragm returned downward with time. However, the decreased lung volumes in the last spirometry suggest the decreased inspiratory force following partial paralysis of diaphragm.