The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · May 2021
Association of chest tube position with phrenic nerve palsy after neonatal and infant cardiac surgery.
Diaphragm paralysis (DP) complicates the postoperative course of neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Events causing DP remain poorly understood, and preventive strategies remain elusive. This retrospective cohort analysis aims to test the hypothesis that chest tubes in contact with the phrenic nerve in the pleural apex may cause pressure palsy. ⋯ Chest tubes that occupy the right superior pleural space are associated with increased risk of DP.