OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of phrenic nerve abnormalities in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and evaluate the value of phrenic nerve conduction studies in predicting ventilation failure. METHODS During a study period of one year between July 2008 and July 2009, 28 GBS patients referred to our tertiary university hospital (Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfa...

In this overview, we outline what is known regarding the key developmental stages of phrenic nerve and diaphragm formation in perinatal rats. These developmental events include the following. Cervical axons emerge from the spinal cord during embryonic (E) day 11. At approximately E12.5, phrenic and brachial axons from the cervical segments merge at the brachial plexi. Subsequently, the two popu...

OBJECTIVES Evaluation of an aggressive policy for the treatment of phrenic nerve palsy (PNP), following cardiac operations, with emphasis on early diaphragmatic plication. Attention was given to the incidence and predisposing factors for PNP and the potential for recovery following plication. METHODS From 1 June 1991 to 1 January 1996 we prospectively screened patients for PNP following cardi...

The diaphragm is a major respiratory muscle and plays an integral part in normal respiration. It is supplied by the phrenic nerve, which originates mainly from the fourth cervical nerve, but also receives contribution from the third and fifth cervical nerves. The phrenic nerve contains sensory, motor, and sympathetic nerve fibers, and it supplies motor supply to the diaphragm and sensory supply...

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'What is the value of topical cooling as an adjunct to myocardial protection?' Using the reported search, 9 papers represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outc...

Mañero M et al. Phrenic nerve paralysis during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation: a comparison between the firstand second-generation balloon. Heart Rhythm 2013;10:1318–24. 15. Franceschi F, Dubuc M, Guerra PG, Khairy P. Phrenic nerve monitoring with diaphragmatic electromyography during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation: the first human application. Heart Rhythm 2011;8:10...

chylothorax in adult occurs most commonly in the wake of cardiac and thoracic procedures. injuries to the  common thoracic duct in the thorax or its branches in the mediastinum, injuries to the thymus tissues, dissection of the superior vena cava or ascending aorta, dissection of the aortic arch, disruption of the accessory lymphatics in the left or right thorax, and increased pressure in the s...

primary cardiac sarcomas are rare clinical entities with an incidence rate of 0.0001% in collected autopsy series and are regarded as very aggressive tumors. we herein describe a 21-year-old woman presenting with syncope, dyspnea, and abdominal distention. she suffered from massive ascites, plural effusion, and liver congestion demonstrated by abdominal sonography and chest x-ray. transthoracic...

Authors: Eftychios Siniorakis, Department of Cardiology, Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece; George Kirvassilis, Nikolaos Exadaktylos, Konstantine Karidis doi:10.1510/icvts.2008.199950A We read with interest and wish to congratulate Dr. Makhija et al. w1x on their reported case on delayed cardiac tamponade following posttraumatic diaphragmatic hernia without an intrapericardial com...