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Diaphragmatic paralysis epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mahda Alihashemi M.D. [2]

Overview

The incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis is unknown, but the incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery, radiologically, is approximately 30,000 to 75,000 per 100,000 individuals. Prevalence of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery is 1,600 per 100,000 in children. The morbidity and mortality of the unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is related to underlying pulmonary function and etiology. Most of the bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis are symptomatic and may develop ventilatory failure. Patients of all age groups may develop diaphragmatic paralysis. There is no racial predilection to diaphragmatic paralysis. Men are more commonly affected.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Incidence

  • The incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis is unknown, but the incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery is approximately 30,000 to 75,000 per 100,000 individuals.[1]

Prevalence

The prevalence of diaphragmatic paralysis is unknown, but prevalence of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery is 1,600 per 100,000 in children. [2]

Case-fatality rate/Mortality rate

  • Most of the unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally during imaging and mortality rate are low.
  • Most of the bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis are symptomatic and may develop ventilatory failure.

Age

  • Patients of all age groups may develop diaphragmatic paralysis.

Race

  • There is no racial predilection to diaphragmatic paralysis.

Gender

  • Men are more commonly affected by diaphragmatic paralysis than women.[4]

References

  1. Efthimiou J, Butler J, Woodham C, Benson MK, Westaby S (1991). “Diaphragm paralysis following cardiac surgery: role of phrenic nerve cold injury”. Ann. Thorac. Surg. 52 (4): 1005–8. PMID 1929616.
  2. de Leeuw M, Williams JM, Freedom RM, Williams WG, Shemie SD, McCrindle BW (1999). “Impact of diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiothoracic surgery in children”. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 118 (3): 510–7. doi:10.1016/S0022-5223(99)70190-X. PMID 10469969.
  3. Canbaz S, Turgut N, Halici U, Balci K, Ege T, Duran E (2004). “Electrophysiological evaluation of phrenic nerve injury during cardiac surgery–a prospective, controlled, clinical study”. BMC Surg. 4: 2. doi:10.1186/1471-2482-4-2. PMC 320489. PMID 14723798.
  4. Lagueny A, Ellie E, Saintarailles J, Marthan R, Barat M, Julien J (1992). “Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis: an electrophysiological study”. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry. 55 (4): 316–8. PMC 489048. PMID 1583519.

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