[Diaphragmatic palsy and dysfunction: from physiology to surgery]

Diaphragmatic eventration associated with megacolon: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Diaphragmatic eventration (DE) associated with gastrointestinal anomalies is rarely reported, and its treatment is not well defined.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a 24-years-old male admitted for cough, dyspnea, and chest pain, all of gradual onset. Chest computerized tomography (CT) and chest x-ray diagnosed diaphragmatic eventration and colonic distension. He underwent surgery via a posterolateral thoracotomy. We found colonic distension which pushed the left hemidiaphragm under intense pressure further into the chest, making immediate diaphragmatic plication via the chest difficult. We managed this by colonic needle decompression followed by resection and plication of the diaphragm. The patient had a satisfactory postoperative recovery with a good respiratory profile and no constipation. At a follow up visit, barium enema showed megacolon with no apparent etiology. He is to have a long-term outpatient follow up.

DISCUSSION

Diaphragmatic eventration coexisting with megacolon is rare. Data available suggests supplementary abdominal workup is necessary to better plan the surgery. Surgical correction via an abdominal route tends to be more appropriate in these scenarios.

CONCLUSION

In cases of gastrointestinal anomaly associated with diaphragmatic eventration, more careful abdominal consideration is needed to better plan the surgery.

Exercise testing in patients with diaphragm paresis

PURPOSE

Diaphragm paresis (DP) is characterized by abnormalities of respiratory muscle function. However, the impact of DP on exercise capacity is not well known. This study was performed to assess exercise tolerance in patients with DP and to determine whether inspiratory muscle function was related to exercise capacity, ventilatory pattern and cardiovascular function during exercise.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with DP who underwent both diaphragmatic force measurements, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were included. Dyspnea was the main symptom limiting exertion (86%). Exercise capacity was slightly reduced (median VO2peak: 80% [74.5%-90.5%]), mostly due to ventilatory limitation. Diaphragm and overall inspiratory muscle function were correlated with exercise ventilation. Moreover, overall inspiratory muscle function was related with oxygen consumption (r=0.61) and maximal workload (r=0.68).

CONCLUSIONS

DP decreases aerobic capacity due to ventilatory limitation. Diaphragm function is correlated with exercise ventilation whereas overall inspiratory muscle function is correlated with both exercise capacity and ventilation suggesting the importance of the accessory inspiratory muscles during exercise for patients with DP. Further larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.