OBJECTIVE The introduction of the Fontan operation for single ventricle physiology was based on the dual principle of the pulmonary blood flow. It is postulated that normal breathing movements are necessary for passive blood flow into the lungs. We compared patients with and without palsy of the phrenic nerve regarding the sufficiency of Fontan hemodynamics. METHODS We analyzed 85 consecutive...

In a previous work we started the study of the influences of different methods of collapse-therapy-and particularly pneumothorax-on the respiratory function of each lung. We are presenting here the results of the air content analysis of each lung before and after the surgical paralysis of the phrenic nerve. Oianotti and Ceruti2 have seen in tracheotomized dogs that the ventilation of the lungs ...

INTRODUCTION Cervical spondylosis as a cause of diaphragmatic weakness is an uncommon entity and has been reported primarily in the setting of cervical spinal cord compression. Cervical spondylosis most often causes respiratory failure from cervical myelopathy and damage to the ventral horn cells at spinal cord segments C3 to C5 from where the phrenic nerve arises. The manifestations are variab...

Comment on 'Capnography as an aid in localizing the phrenic nerve in brachial plexus surgery. Technical note' Bhagat H, Agarwal A, Sharma MSJournal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury 2008, 3:14 (22 May 2008).

We have previously demonstrated that microinjection of dl-homocysteic acid (DLH), a glutamate analog, into the pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) can produce either phasic or tonic excitation of phrenic nerve discharge during hyperoxic normocapnia. Breathing, however, is influenced by input from both central and peripheral chemoreceptor activation. This influence of increased respiratory network ...

Response to comments on 'Capnography as an aid in localizing the phrenic nerve in brachial plexus surgery. Technical note' Bhagat H, Agarwal A, Sharma MS Journal of Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury 2008, 3:14 (22 May 2008)

by anaesthetists experienced in both the techniques. There seems to be an inherent bias towards US technique (an experienced anaesthetist should have taken over when more than three to four passes were required in the NS group, .10 needle passes is too high). Is it possible that the NS technique was performed by less-experienced anaesthetists or are people losing skills in doing blocks by nerve...

Since Naunyn reported the first case of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in a newborn infant in 1902, 38 further cases have been described; 72% showed an association with Erb's palsy on the same side as the phrenic injury. As most cases have occurred after breech delivery, the majority of observers considered the injury to result from manipulations of the head and neck producing overstretchin...

THE RESPIRATORY CONTROL SYSTEM is not just reflexive; it is smart, it learns, and, in fact, it has a working memory. The respiratory system listens to and carefully remembers how previous respiratory stimuli affect breathing. Respiratory memory is laid down by regulating synaptic strength between respiratory neurons. Repeated hypoxic bouts trigger a form of respiratory memory that functions to ...