ABSTRACT
Acquired paralysis of the diaphragm is a condition caused by trauma, surgical injuries, [lung cancer surgery, esophageal surgery, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery], and is sometimes of an unknown etiology. It can lead to dyspnea and can affect ventilatory function and patients activity. Diaphragmatic plication is a treatment method which decreases inconsistent function of diaphragm. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of diaphragmatic plication in patients with acquired unilateral non-malignant diaphragmatic paralysis. From 1991 to 2011, 20 patients with acquired unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis who underwent surgery enrolled in our study in Ghaem Hospital Mashhad University of Medical Science. Patients were evaluated in terms of age, sex, BMI, clinical symptoms, dyspnea score [DS], etiology of paralysis, diagnostic methods, respiratory function tests and complication of surgery. Some tests including dyspnea score were carried out again six months after surgery. We evaluated patients with SPSS version 11.5 and Paired t-test or nonparametric equivalent. Twenty patients enrolled in our study. 14 were male and 6 were female. The mean age was 58 years and the average time interval between diagnosis to surgical treatment was 38.3 months. Acquired diaphragmatic paralysis was mostly caused by trauma [in 11 patients] and almost occurred on the left side [in 15 patients]. Diagnostic methods included chest x-ray, CT scan, ultrasonography and sniff. Test prior to surgery the average FVC was 41.4 +/- 7 percent and the average FEV[1] was 52.4 +/- 6 percent and after surgery they were 80.1 +/- 8.6 percent and 74.4 +/- 1 percent respectively. The average increase in FEV[1] and FVC 63.4 +/- 4, 61.1 +/- 7.8. Performing surgery also leads to a noticeable improvement in dyspnea score in our study. In patients with acquired unilateral non-malignant diaphragm paralysis diaphragmatic plication is highly recommended due to the remarkable improvement in respiratory function tests and dyspnea score without mortality and acceptable morbidity
ABSTRACT
Complications like chronic diaphragmatic hernia thoracoabdominal stab wound following conservative treatment, make it necessary to find a safe and exact diagnostic method. The aim of this work was to assess, accurate diagnostic value of thoracoscopy in occult diaphragmatic injuries in penetrating thoracoabdominal stab wound. In the present prospective study, from March 2005 to October 2007 at Ghaem, Emam Reza and Shahid Kamyab Hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, thirty patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries, with stable hemodynamic and no need to emergent exploration were evaluated. They underwent thoracoscopy to evaluate probable diaphragmatic injuries, which were repaired via thoracoscopy or laparatomy and all patients evaluated for chronic diaphragmatic hernia by CT-scan, 6 months later. Mean age was 26.2 years and M/F ratio was 5:1. In thoracoscopic evaluations five hidden diaphragmatic injuries [16.7%] were observed, that 3 cases [9.9%] were repaired through thoracoscopic approach and laparatomy was inevitable in 2 [6.6%] patients. Lung paranchymal laceration was seen in 2 patients [6.6%], repaired with thoracoscopy and intra abdominal injury was seen in 1 patient [3.3%], repaired with loparatomy. No complication reported after thoracoscopy and there was no evidence of chronic diaphragmatic hernia in the chest and abdominal CT-scan performed 6 months later. In this study, the diagnostic accuracy of thoracoscopy in occult diaphragmatic injuries was 100%. Because of high diagnostic accuracy rate, and minimal invasively diagnostic and treatment ability of thoracoscopy, this diagnostic method in all clinically stable patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal stab wound is recommended