A porcine model of postoperative hemi-diaphragmatic paresis to evaluate a unilateral diaphragmatic pacemaker.

ABSTRACT: Unilateral phrenic nerve damage is a dreaded complication in congenital heart surgery. It has deleterious effects in neonates and children with uni-ventricular circulation. Diaphragmatic palsy, caused by phrenic nerve damage, impairs respiratory function, especially in new-borns, because their respiration depends on diaphragmatic contractions. Furthermore, Fontan patients with passive pulmonary perfusion are seriously affected by phrenic nerve injury, because diaphragmatic contraction augments pulmonary blood flow. Diaphragmatic plication is currently employed to ameliorate the negative effects of diaphragmatic palsy on pulmonary perfusion and respiratory mechanics. This procedure attenuates pulmonary compression by the abdominal contents. However, there is no contraction of the plicated d

SUBMITTER: Kratz T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10400610 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature