Phrenic nerve paralysis following lung transplantation

Phrenic nerve paralysis is a well-documented complication of cardiac operation, but there is less commonly reported after lung transplantation. A retrospective study of 49 lung transplantation was done at Okayama University Hospital. Phrenic nerve paralysis (unilateral in 3 patients and bilateral in 1) was found in 4 patients (8.2%). All of these paralyses were transiently recovered. The average length of ventilation, intensive care unit stay and hospitalization for recipients with phrenic nerve paralysis was not significantly longer than the other (no diaphragmatic paralysis) recipients, but there was a tendency to be longer. Diaphragmatic paralysis is most likely related to difficulty in detecting the phrenic nerve caused by adhesions, injury due to dissection, thermal injury by electrocartery, or local topical hypothermia using ice-slush. Therefore, it is important to take care of avoiding the injury of the nerve during the operation.