title: Combination of diaphragmatic plication with major abdominal surgery in patients with phrenic nerve palsy.
abstract: The role of simultaneous prophylactic diaphragmatic plication during major abdominal operations is evaluated. In five patients with a history of phrenic nerve injury, postoperative ventilation requirements and hospital stay were significantly reduced when synchronous diaphragmatic plication was performed, compared with corresponding values obtained during previous abdominal operation without diaphragmatic plication. In addition, diaphragmatic plication was associated with postoperative improvement of respiratory mechanics and blood gas exchange.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, 22 Hanioti Street, 154 52 Athens, Greece. vsmyrniotis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smyrniotis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arkadopoulos
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostopanagiotou
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gamaletsos
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pistioli
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kostopanagiotou
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000601:surgery*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies