These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Diaphragm paralysis following cardiac surgery: role of phrenic nerve cold injury.
    Author: Efthimiou J, Butler J, Woodham C, Benson MK, Westaby S.
    Journal: Ann Thorac Surg; 1991 Oct; 52(4):1005-8. PubMed ID: 1929616.
    Abstract:
    Diaphragm paralysis has been reported radiologically after cardiac surgery with an incidence ranging from 30% to 75% of patients. We studied 100 consecutive patients undergoing open heart operations, half of whom received ice/slush topical hypothermia (group 1) and half of whom did not (group 2). Chest radiology and diaphragm screening were performed at 1 week, 1 month, and every 6 months thereafter in all patients with an elevated diaphragm. Phrenic nerve conduction time was measured in all patients in whom there was radiological evidence of diaphragm paralysis 1 week postoperatively. The two groups were similar in terms of age and sex. Aortic cross-clamp time was less in group 1 (61.5 +/- 15.6 minutes) compared with group II (74.4 +/- 20.8 minutes), although this difference was not significant. Significant differences, however, were found for radiological evidence of partial left lower lobe collapse (82% in group 1 versus 32% in group 2; p less than 0.01) and for radiological evidence of diaphragm paralysis (32% in group 1 versus 2% in group 2; p less than 0.001) within the first postoperative week. Unilateral diaphragm paralysis developed in 16 group 1 patients (15 left sided, 1 right sided) compared with only 1 patient in group 2. In these 16 group 1 patients, diaphragm paralysis was still present in 12 (75%) at 1 month and in 5 (31.3%) at 1 year postoperatively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, or mortality. Phrenic nerve conduction time was found to be a sensitive indicator of phrenic nerve cold injury and recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]