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Diaphragm Paralysis Definitively Diagnosed by Ultrasonography and Postural Dependence of Dynamic Lung Volumes after Seven Decades of Dysfunction

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Abstract

Unilateral diaphragm paralysis is an important and often unrecognized cause of dyspnea. In patients with appropriate risk factors, such as prior head and neck surgery and presentation of positional dyspnea or dyspnea on submersion, unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis should be considered. We present our approach to the diagnosis of diaphragm paralysis and demonstrate the utility of upright/supine spirometry and M-mode ultrasonography in these patients’ evaluation.

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Abbreviations

CT:

Computed tomography scan

CXR:

Chest X-ray

FEV1 :

Forced expiratory volume in one second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

HbA1C:

Hemoglobin A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin)

VC:

Vital capacity

FRC:

Functional residual capacity

ΔPpl:

Change in pleural pressure

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dr. Stephen Loring for his thoughtful review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Avignat S. Patel, Carl O’Donnell, Michael J. Parker & David H. Roberts

  2. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, PBS-2, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA

    Avignat S. Patel

Authors
  1. Avignat S. Patel
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  2. Carl O’Donnell
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  3. Michael J. Parker
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  4. David H. Roberts
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Avignat S. Patel.

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Patel, A.S., O’Donnell, C., Parker, M.J. et al. Diaphragm Paralysis Definitively Diagnosed by Ultrasonography and Postural Dependence of Dynamic Lung Volumes after Seven Decades of Dysfunction. Lung 185, 15–20 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-006-0055-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-006-0055-7

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