Clinical and sonographic evaluation of the diaphragm after plication in adults with unilateral eventration: a retrospective study

Abstract

Abstract Background We aim to assess the role of diaphragm ultrasonography in evaluating the outcome of surgical diaphragmatic plication in adults with symptomatic unilateral diaphragmatic eventration. Results Forty patients with symptomatic unilateral diaphragmatic eventration underwent surgical diaphragmatic plication between 2015 and 2020. The etiology was idiopathic in 34 (85%) cases, and 37 (92.5%) of them were suffering from dyspnea. Diaphragm ultrasonography showed no diaphragmatic movement on the affected side in 10 (25%) patients and a paradoxical movement in 30 (75%) patients. Surgical diaphragmatic plication was done successfully in all cases. Postoperative complications were reported in 3 (7.5%) cases, with no mortality. There was a highly significant improvement in dyspnea at 1 week and 6 months follow-up. CXR showed a highly significant decrease in the mean height of eventration at 1 week 3.7 ± 1.2 cm (P < 0.001), and 6 months 2.6 ± 0.9 cm (P < 0.001), compared to preoperative values (10.1 ± 2.8 cm). diaphragm ultrasonography showed normal motility of the plicated cupola in all cases, and there was a highly significant decrease in the mean height of eventration at 1 week (3.1 ± 1.1 cm, P < 0.001), and 6 months (2.3 ± 0.5 cm, P < 0.001) compared to preoperative values (10.3 ± 2.2 cm). There was a highly significant increase in the diaphragm thickness at 1 week (2.7 ± 0.3 mm, P < 0.001), and 6 months (2.9 ± 0.2 mm, P < 0.001), compared to the preoperative value. There was a highly significant improvement in the degree of excursion 1 week (25 ± 4.3 mm, P < 0.001), and 6 months (28 ± 5.2 mm, P < 0.001), compared to the preoperative value (15 ± 6.2 mm). No fluid collection or surroundings organ injuries were detected. The mean FVC and FEV1 showed a highly significant improvement at 1 week (66.7 ± 6%, 78.2 ± 9.8%), and 6 months (68.8 ± 5.7%, 80.4 ± 10.3%), compared to the preoperative value (58.8 ± 8% and 70.9 ± 10.3%). Conclusions Surgical diaphragmatic plication is an effective and safe procedure that can be performed to treat symptomatic adults with unilateral diaphragmatic eventration. Diaphragm ultrasonography can be used as a simple bedside test to evaluate unilateral diaphragmatic eventration cases and their postoperative follow-up.

Keywords

• Diaphragm plication
• Diaphragmatic eventration
• Diaphragm ultrasonography