Diaphragmatic paralysis in the newborn

Abstract

Three cases of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis caused by injury to the phrenic nerve are presented. The first showed only minor respiratory difficulty and the diagnosis was not made until 3 months. The second presented the classical clinical picture of this condition. In the third, cyanosis led to an erroneous diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Phrenic nerve palsy should be considered in any newborn with respiratory distress, particularly if occurring after a difficult delivery, a breech presentation, and/or forceps extraction. In such cases fluoroscopy of the chest is mandatory.