• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.330-332
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• 1999

A 40-year-old woman underwent plication by video-assisted thoracoscopy for left diaphragmatic eventration. Normalization in the position of the left diaphragm and a marked improvement in the left lung expansion were identified on the chest X-ray. This technique offers the patients many advantages of the minimally invasive operation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.733-738
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• 2005

Theoretically one might suggest the abdominoplasty can cause respiratory decompensation resulting from musculofascial plication, which reduces the respiratory reserve by decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion. This prospective study was perfomed to evaluate the effect of abdominoplasty and the change of intraoperative Paw on the pulmonary function of 20 consecutive otherwise healthy subjects. The pulmonary function test was performed preoperatively, and repeated 2 months after the operation. Additionally, we monitored intraoperative Paw. Comparison of the pulmonary function test showed a significant decrease(p<0.001) in the mean forced vital capacity(FVC) and the mean forced expiratory volume in one second($FEV_1$) throughout the study period. Postoperatively, the mean FVC decreased by 11.65% and the mean $FEV_1$ decreased by 16.15%. The mean Paw increased by $6.6cmH_2O$($3-12cmH_2O$) by musculofascial plication. And we found that the decrease in FVC and $FEV_1$ was significantly correlated with intraoperative changing of Paw in abdominoplasty(p<0.001). FVC and $FEV_1$ could be decreased by abdominoplasty due to decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion, but there was no respiratory symptom clinically in all patients 2 months after the operation. In conclusion, We found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 after 2 months of abdominoplasty was significantly correlated with intraoperative Paw change during operation. The intraoperative Paw was increased to $12cmH_2O$ without any respiratory symptom in this study. We suggested that the increase in intraoperative Paw less than about $10cmH_2O$ can not affect on respiratory function clinically.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.560-563
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• 2002

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis due to a phrenic nerve injury is not rare after cardiothoracic surgery and may range from an asymptomatic radiographic abnormality to severe pulmonary dysfunction and even mortality in patients with reduced lung function. The most effective treatment for symptomatic unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis has been known to be a plication of the paralyzed hemidiaphragm. A 38 year-old male patient with asthma received a phrenic nerve reconstruction with a sural nerve for right phrenic nerve injury during resection of the anterior mediastinal tumor. Ten months later, chest PA showed good result and we report this case with literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 1973

Eventration of the diaphragm is, by definition, abnormally high or elevated position of diaphragm as a result of paralysis, aplasia or atrophy of varing degrees of muscle fibers, and the cause of which may be congenital or acquired. The unbroken continuity of the diaphragm differentiates it from diaphragmatic hernia. The clinical manifestations of the condition, if present, are usually due to the interference of the ventilatory function of the lung and digesive dysfunction due to gastrointestinal distorsion. Treatment consists of surgical repair of the relaxed diaphragm to it`s normal position. A ease of left sided eventuration of the diaphragm, 31 year old officer, was found by chance after traffic accident with chief complaints of hemoptysis and multiple superficial contusions. Routine chest roentgenogram and barium study of the colon revealed moderately elevated left hemidiaphragm with displacement of the splenic flexure of the colon into the left chest. Past history revealed frequent attack of upper respiratory infection and some abnormal condition on his left chest announced by screen cheek of chest X-ray at the time of entrance for his army service 3 years before. Plication of the relaxed diaphragm through left thoracotomy was done and result was excellent as seen on Fig. 5. Cause of eventration of the left hemidiaphragm was due to paralysis of the left phrenic nerve which was tested during thoracotomy.