title: Is diaphragmatic elevation a serious complication of open-heart surgery?
abstract: Diaphragmatic elevation or paralysis after open-heart surgery was retrospectively analyzed in 370 consecutive operations performed on 365 adult patients. The incidence of the complication was 7.2%. It was significantly correlated with ipsilateral pleural effusion and lower-lobe atelectasis, but no predisposing or causal factors could be identified. Diaphragmatic elevation did not prolong the hospital stay. Actuarial analysis of data from follow-up chest radiograms showed normalization of the diaphragmatic position within 6 months in 44% and within a year in 90% of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nierop
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Huysmans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003965:Diaphragmatic Eventration / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors