
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Diaphragmatic paralysis medical therapy
Introduction
Overview
Overview
No treatment is required for unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis because most patients are asymptomatic. In bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis treatment options are ventilatory support and diaphragmatic pacing.
Medical Therapy
Medical Therapy
Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis
- No treatment are required in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis because most patients are asymptomatic.[1]
- Transient ventilatory support with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) or invasive mechanical ventilation: it is used when patients with unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis develop acute respiratory dysfunction after general anesthesia or infections.
Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis
- Treatment options depends upon the severity of paralysis of the diaphragm and etiology. [2][3]
- Ventilatory support (invasive or noninvasive)
- Diaphragmatic pacing:
- It is done via stimulation of the diaphragm by implanted electrodes at the level of the neck or thorax. [4]
- It can not be done in patients with denervated diaphragams.
- Best candidates for diaphragmatic pacing are patients with high level cervical cord injury.[5]
Diaphragmatic paralysis
Antiviral therapy for viral etiology of diaphragmatic paralysis:[6]
- Adult
- ValacyclovirΒ 1000 mg twice daily for 1 week
References
References
- β Easton PA, Fleetham JA, de la Rocha A, Anthonisen NR (January 1983). “Respiratory function after paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm”. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 127 (1): 125β8. doi:10.1164/arrd.1983.127.1.125. PMIDΒ 6849536.
- β Davis J, Goldman M, Loh L, Casson M (January 1976). “Diaphragm function and alveolar hypoventilation”. Q. J. Med. 45 (177): 87β100. PMIDΒ 1062815.
- β Gibson GJ (November 1989). “Diaphragmatic paresis: pathophysiology, clinical features, and investigation”. Thorax. 44 (11): 960β70. PMCΒ 462156. PMIDΒ 2688182.
- β Le Pimpec-Barthes F, Legras A, Arame A, Pricopi C, Boucherie JC, Badia A, Panzini CM (April 2016). “Diaphragm pacing: the state of the art”. J Thorac Dis. 8 (Suppl 4): S376β86. doi:10.21037/jtd.2016.03.97. PMCΒ 4856845. PMIDΒ 27195135.
- β Onders RP, Elmo M, Khansarinia S, Bowman B, Yee J, Road J, Bass B, Dunkin B, Ingvarsson PE, OddsdΓ³ttir M (July 2009). “Complete worldwide operative experience in laparoscopic diaphragm pacing: results and differences in spinal cord injured patients and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients”. Surg Endosc. 23 (7): 1433β40. doi:10.1007/s00464-008-0223-3. PMIDΒ 19067067.
- β Crausman RS, Summerhill EM, McCool FD (2009). “Idiopathic diaphragmatic paralysis: Bell’s palsy of the diaphragm?”. Lung. 187 (3): 153β7. doi:10.1007/s00408-009-9140-z. PMIDΒ 19277778.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mahda Alihashemi M.D. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
