Diaphragmatic Dysfunction FollowingCardiac Surgery: Is There a Role forPulmonary Ultrasound?

We read with great interest the work from Jellish and Oftadeh about peripheral nerve injury after cardiac surgery.1 Their article well summarizes the known nerve lesions related to cardiac surgery, together with the pathophysiology and clinical workup. Among the possible iatrogenic lesions, which can affect patients undergoing cardiac surgery, a significant role is played by diaphragmatic dysfunction due to phrenic nerve injury. Phrenic nerve injury is not the only cause of diaphragmatic dysfunction because the diaphragm also can be damaged itself, mainly by surgery or because of prolonged mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research