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Effects of paralysis with pancuronium on chest wall statics in awake humans.

The influence of tonic inspiratory muscle activity on the relaxation characteristics of the chest wall, rib cage (RC), and abdominal wall (ABW) has been investigated in four highly trained subjects. Chest wall shape and volume were estimated with magnetometers. Pleural pressure (Pes) and abdominal pressure were measured with esophageal and gastric balloons, respectively. Subjects were seated reclining 30 degrees from upright, and respiratory muscle weakness was produced by pancuronium bromide until RC inspiratory capacity was decreased to 60% of control. Only minor changes were observed for Konno-Mead relaxation characteristics (RC vs. ABW) between control and paralysis. Similarly, although RC relaxation curves (RC vs. Pes) during paralysis were significantly different from control (P less than 0.05), the changes were small and not consistent. The differences between paralysis-induced changes in resting end-expiratory position of the chest wall and helium-dilution functional residual capacity (FRC) suggested changes in volume of blood within the chest wall. We conclude that 1) although tonic inspiratory activity of chest wall muscles exists, it does not significantly affect the chest wall relaxation characteristics in trained subjects; 2) submaximal paralysis produced by pancuronium bromide is likely to modify either spinal attitude or the distribution of blood between extremities and the thorax; these effects may account for the changes in FRC in other studies.

Blood Volume↗

Respiratory response to abdominal and rib cage muscle paralysis in dogs.

To assess the respiratory response to abdominal and rib cage muscle paralysis, we measured tidal volume, esophageal and gastric pressures, arterial blood gases, and the electromyogram (EMG) of the diaphragm during progressive epidural anesthesia (lidocaine 2%) in 35 supine anesthetized dogs. The EMG activity of the diaphragm was measured with fine-wire electrodes; the abdominal cavity was thus left intact. Paralysis of the abdominal muscles alone did not produce any alterations. In contrast, when all rib cage muscles were also paralyzed, there were substantial increases in the peak height and the rate of rise of diaphragmatic EMG activity that were associated with a decrease in tidal volume and an increase in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2); swings in transdiaphragmatic pressure, however, were unchanged. The increased diaphragmatic activation due to rib cage muscle paralysis persisted after bilateral cervical vagotomy and was well explained by the increased PaCO2. These observations indicate that in the dog 1) the rib cage muscles contribute significantly to tidal volume, and their paralysis causes, through the increased hypercapnic drive, a compensatory increase in diaphragmatic activation; and 2) the rib cage inspiratory muscles enhance the diaphragm's ability to generate pressure during breathing.

Abdomen↗

Determinants of diaphragm motion in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.

Cranial displacement of a hemidiaphragm during sniffs is a cardinal sign of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in clinical practice. However, we have recently observed that isolated stimulation of one phrenic nerve in dogs causes the contralateral (inactive) hemidiaphragm to move caudally. In the present study, therefore, we tested the idea that, in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis, the pattern of inspiratory muscle contraction plays a major role in determining the motion of the inactive hemidiaphragm. We induced a hemidiaphragmatic paralysis in six anesthetized dogs and assessed the contour of the diaphragm during isolated unilateral phrenic nerve stimulation and during spontaneous inspiratory efforts. Whereas the inactive hemidiaphragm moved caudally in the first instance, it moved cranially in the second. The parasternal intercostal muscles were then severed to reduce the contribution of the rib cage muscles to inspiratory efforts and to enhance the force generated by the intact hemidiaphragm. Although the change in pleural pressure (DeltaPpl) was unaltered, the cranial displacement of the paralyzed hemidiaphragm was consistently reduced. A pneumothorax was finally induced to eliminate DeltaPpl during unilateral phrenic nerve stimulation, and this enhanced the caudal displacement of the inactive hemidiaphragm. These observations indicate that, in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis, the motion of the inactive hemidiaphragm is largely determined by the balance between the force related to DeltaPpl and the force generated by the intact hemidiaphragm.

Anesthesia↗

Unilateral diaphragm paralysis possibly due to cervical spine involvement in multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis due to multiple myeloma (MM) involving the cervical spine and related structures. CASE PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 52-year-old female presented with dyspnea, low back and widespread bone pain. She was diagnosed as having MM with vertebral involvement and unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm. She received two cycles of a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of vincristine-Adriamycin-dexamethasone. The bisphosphonate zoledronic acid was also initiated at the same time. During follow-up, the back pain disappeared and the complaint of dyspnea decreased, although the paralysis persisted. CONCLUSION: As part of the differential diagnosis of bone and back pain, we draw attention to MMand the rare complication of diaphragmatic paralysis due to phrenic nerve involvement.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

Preoperative facial paralysis in malignant parotid tumours.

Preoperative paralysis of the facial nerve was found in 145 of 1,029 patients with malignant parotid tumours (14%) treated at nine university clinics in Scandinavia. The incidence of facial paralysis varied between the different clinics. A parellelism between the incidence of the facial paralysis and the impairment of the prognosis of the different tumour types is shown. The presence of preoperative facial nerve paralysis in malignant parotid tumours implies a very poor prognosis but the situation is not as hopeless as has been suggested and therefore one must rely on very radical surgery.

Adenoma↗

Electromyographic analysis of profound facial nerve paralysis following acoustic neuroma resection.

The aim of our retrospective study was to determine whether electromyographic findings (motor unit action potentials, MUAPs) can be used in long-term prognosis for profound facial nerve paralysis in patients whose nerve continuity is preserved during surgery for acoustic neuroma. The orbicularis oris, frontal, and orbicularis oculi muscles were examined for the occurrence of MUAPs in 48 such patients. In 30 patients who recovered from complete paralysis within 10 months after surgery, MUAPs in the first two muscles tended to precede the first sign of facial movement. MUAPs appeared in the orbicularis muscle in 80% of these patients at 1 month and in all at 5 months. In the frontal and orbicularis oculi muscles, MUAPs occurred in only 0-20% of these patients in the first month; within 3-5 months the number increased rapidly, and MUAPs were present in 95% of these patients at 10 months. In the remaining 18 patients with long-term complete paralysis (at least 1 year), MUAPs appeared solely in the orbicularis oris muscle: in 20% of these patients in the first month after surgery. While this number slowly rose, there was no period of rapid increase later. We conclude that the occurrence of MUAPs in the orbicularis oris and frontal muscles within 3 months of surgery indicates a good prognosis for reversal of facial nerve paralysis.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Glottographic phase difference in recurrent nerve paralysis.

Phase measures with simultaneously recorded electroglottography (EGG) and photoglottography (PGG) signals have been studied in canine models and found to be sensitive to the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis on vocal fold vibration. This study examined the usefulness of this type of measure in clinical application. The combined glottographic signals were obtained from 5 men with a diagnosis of unilateral RLN paralysis and 5 age-matched controls. In the patient group, EGG waveforms were found to have a consistent phase delay in relation to PGG. A measure of the overall glottographic phase difference (GPD) was found to significantly distinguish the control group (mean GPD = 0.2371 ms) from the patient group (mean GPD = -0.2765 ms). A validity analysis performed on 19 subjects with or without unilateral RLN paralysis confirmed that the GPD test had a relatively high efficiency (91.7%) in detecting unilateral RLN paralysis in the male population.

Adult↗

Etiology of bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis: a review of 389 cases.

The etiology of 389 cases of partial or complete bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis has been determined and classified. One hundred and forty-nine were infants and children 12 years of age and under; 240 were adults, age 13 and older. In the infants and children the paralyses were congenital in 82 cases, of which 43 were associated with other congenital anomalies, and 39 were without associated anomalies. Fifty-nine cases were considered acquired, most being secondary to underlying congenital anomalies, particularly the associated findings of meningomyelocele, Arnold-Chiari malformation, and hydrocephalus. Eight cases of paralysis in this age group were of undetermined etiology. Of the 240 adult cases of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. 138 followed thyroidectomy. Fifty-two cases were associated with various neurologic disorders, including poliomyelitis, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular accident, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, neoplasms and other miscellaneous neurologic conditions. Sixteen cases were due to malignant neoplasms of the neck and mediastinum. The remaining 34 cases constitute a miscellaneous group which includes foreign bodies, bilateral neck dissection, infection, congenital lesions, trauma, and idiopathic paralyses. The characteristic symptoms of bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis include normal or near normal phonation with inspiratory stridor which may progress to complete respiratory obstruction. These symptoms are due to the stationary but flaccid midline position of the vocal cords which places them in a phonating position, where they both obstruct the airway and produce a faily clear voice or cry. This paradoxical combination of symptoms was frequently found to be responsible for a failure or delay in diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Vocal cord paralysis associated with cystic fibrosis.

The course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve through the chest brings it in close proximity with the heart and great cardiac vessels. Diseases of the heart and the great vessels are known to cause vocal cord paralysis, probably by mechanical injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Pulmonary artery hypertension and dilation occur in up to 80% of patients with cystic fibrosis. We report a case of a 23-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis and left vocal cord paralysis. We believe that sudden pulmonary artery expansion produced recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and vocal cord paralysis. This is only the second association of unilateral vocal cord paralysis and cystic fibrosis in the medical literature. The pathophysiology of the cardiovocal syndrome is discussed.

Adult↗

Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis during transvenous insertion of a permanent endocardial pacemaker.

We present 2 patients with sudden onset of dysphonia due to acute unilateral vocal cord paralysis that occurred during transvenous insertion of a permanent endocardial pacemaker. Acute paralysis of the vocal cord due to this kind of medical intervention is a very unusual complication that has been rarely reported. We believe that traumatic insertion of a pacemaker through the subclavian vein triggered a dynamic process that led to vocal cord paralysis. Three hypothetic explanations are presented: 1) a direct vagus nerve lesion, 2) a direct inferior laryngeal nerve lesion, and 3) a central nervous system lesion caused by a cerebral microembolus. Physicians should be aware of the possibility that associated acute paralysis of the vocal cord may occur after transvenous insertion of an endocardial pacemaker.

Acute Disease↗

A review of the published data on steroids and idiopathic facial paralysis.

Ever since idiopathic facial paralysis (IFP) was first described, several treatments have been tried in an effort to influence early and full recovery. Unfortunately, none of these treatments was effective. After Rothendler's case description in 1951, a multitude of papers have appeared that evaluate the effectiveness of steroids in idiopathic facial paralysis. My presentation reflects a close evaluation of 94 of these papers. Only a few properly controlled, randomized, prospective studies were available. Their main conclusion was that steroid treatment was not more beneficial than conventional treatment. To the contrary, several other less valid prospective and retrospective studies suggest that steroid treatment is beneficial. The definitive, statistically valid study concerning the benefits of steroids in treatment of idiopathic facial paralysis has yet to be performed. Until then, treatment of idiopathic facial paralysis continues to be controversial.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm.

The association of vocal cord dysfunction with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) has been noted in the cardiovascular and otolaryngologic literature. A retrospective review of 168 cases of TAA was performed in order to: (1) define the natural history of associated recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) and (2) propose mechanisms for the development of RLNP in operated and nonoperated aneurysms. Of 168 aneurysms, 5% manifested hoarseness secondary to RLNP. All had type I aneurysms. Only one patient regained vocal cord function after surgical treatment of the aneurysm. RLNP developed as a sequela of TAA repair in 12% of the patients managed surgically. RLNP associated with TAA type III repair had a higher incidence of recovery than paralysis that occurred after TAA type I repair (40% vs. 0% recovery). Sixty-six percent of all patients with permanently paralyzed larynges in this series attained glottic competence sufficient to avoid Teflon injection, and 27% of all RLNP associated with TAA in this series required Teflon injection for aspiration, severe dysphonia, or both. Seventeen percent of the patients with vocal cord paralysis associated with TAA recovered within 12 months. Aneurysm classification and pertinent anatomic relationships are discussed with reference to various mechanisms of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Aged↗

Early gold weight eyelid implantation for facial paralysis.

Facial paralysis can result in serious keratopathy because of corneal exposure and inadequate lacrimation. Thirty-seven patients underwent thirty-eight gold weight upper lid implants to rehabilitate paralysis of the eyelid from various causes. When indicated, implantation was combined with lower lid ectropion repair, medial canthoplasty or brow lift. Because of encouraging results in patients with longstanding facial paralysis, "early" implantation (within 1 month of paralysis) was offered to patients with severe lagophthalmos in whom (1) a severe neural injury was documented at the time of transtemporal surgery or (2) delayed, incomplete return of function was expected. Gold weight implantation resulted in excellent eyelid closure, protection, and cosmesis. There were no infections or extrusions. Lagophthalmos and exposure keratitis resolved or were significantly improved in all patients, and most were able to dispense with eyedrops and salves. Visual acuity improved in 95% of patients--a benefit even those without preoperative keratitis often achieved. A mild worsening of one patient's pre-existing astigmatism developed, which resolved after reimplantation with a lighter weight. The implant is easily removed from those patients who, having undergone early implantation, eventually recover adequate function. Gold weight loading has become our procedure of choice for eyelid rehabilitation.

Adolescent↗

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis with Shy-Drager syndrome.

Shy-Drager syndrome consists of progressive autonomic nervous system failure with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms and orthostatic hypotension. It can also result in airway compromise from bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Fewer than 30 cases of severe bilateral vocal cord paresis or paralysis associated with the Shy-Drager syndrome have been reported in the English literature. We present a case of a 72-year-old man who had a 2-year history of orthostatic hypotension, neurogenic bladder, impotence, anhydrosis, and extremity weakness and paresthesias. Hoarseness and dyspnea with stridor developed as a result of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in the median position and required an emergency tracheotomy. This combination of symptoms resulted in the diagnosis of Shy-Drager syndrome. We present the case along with literature review of bilateral vocal cord paralysis with the Shy-Drager syndrome.

Aged↗

Ultrasonography and lung mechanics can diagnose diaphragmatic paralysis quickly.

Diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiovascular surgery requires early diagnosis prior to extubation. The effectiveness of ultrasonography and a lung mechanics assessment was evaluated. Paralysis of the diaphragm was diagnosed when the diaphragm failed to move or moved in a cephalad direction during inspiration. It was diagnosed in 3 of 40 patients (7.5%) who underwent cardiovascular surgery from 1998 to 1999. Patients were extubated when all parameters met the extubation criteria, irrespective of the presence or absence of diaphragmatic paralysis. One patient required prolonged assisted ventilation and died from mediastinitis on the 35th postoperative day. The other 2 patients required assisted ventilation for an additional 1-3 days. Ultrasonography and a lung mechanics assessment are effective tools for the early diagnosis of diaphragmatic paralysis and assessment of respiratory function after cardiovascular surgery.

Adolescent↗

Inuit interpretations of sleep paralysis.

Traditional and contemporary Inuit concepts of sleep paralysis were investigated through interviews with elders and young people in Iqaluit, Baffin Island. Sleep paralysis was readily recognized by most respondents and termed uqumangirniq (in the Baffin region) or aqtuqsinniq (Kivalliq region). Traditional interpretations of uqumangirniq referred to a shamanistic cosmology in which the individual's soul was vulnerable during sleep and dreaming. Sleep paralysis could result from attack by shamans or malevolent spirits. Understanding the experience as a manifestation of supernatural power, beyond one's control, served to reinforce the experiential reality and presence of the spirit world. For contemporary youth, sleep paralysis was interpreted in terms of multiple frameworks that incorporated personal, medical, mystical, traditional/shamanistic, and Christian views, reflecting the dynamic social changes taking place in this region.

Adult↗

A mutation in the KCNE3 potassium channel gene is associated with susceptibility to thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralyses comprise diverse diseases characterized by acute and reversible attacks of severe muscle weakness, associated with low serum potassium. The most common causes are Familial Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis (FHypoKPP), an autosomal dominant disease, and Thyrotoxic Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis (THypoKPP), secondary to thyrotoxicosis. Symptoms of paralysis are similar in both diseases, distinguished by thyrotoxicosis present in THypoKPP. FHypoKPP is caused by mutations in ionic channel genes calcium (CACN1AS), sodium (SCN4A) and potassium (KCNE3). Since both diseases are similar, we tested the hypothesis that THypoKPP could carry the same mutations described in FHypoKPP, being the paralysis a genetically conditioned complication of thyrotoxicosis. In 15 patients with THypoKPP, using target-exon PCR, CSGE screening, and direct sequencing, we excluded known mutations in CACN1AS and SCN4A genes. On the other hand, we were able to identify the R83H mutation in the KCNE3 gene in one sporadic case of THypoKPP, a man who had been asymptomatic until developing thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves' disease; we confirmed the disease-causing mutation in 2 of 3 descendants. R83H was recently found in two FHypoKPP unrelated families, in which the mutant decreased outward potassium flux, resulting in a more positive resting membrane potential. We, therefore, identified the first genetic defect in THypoKPP, a mutation in the KCNE3 gene.

Adult↗

Predicting the recovery of ventilatory activity in central respiratory paralysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the diaphragmatic response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in predicting the recovery of ventilatory activity after CNS lesions responsible for central respiratory paralysis. METHODS: The authors studied 11 long-term ventilator-dependent patients with central respiratory paralysis (description group: spinal trauma 10, medullary ischemia 1) and 16 patients with central respiratory paralysis for less than 10 weeks (prognostic group, evaluated after a 1-year follow-up: spinal trauma 8, medullary ischemia 4, radiation myelitis 1, subdural hematoma 1, complication of neurosurgery 2). RESULTS: In the description group, all the patients had a bilaterally abolished diaphragm response. In the prognostic group, six patients were fully ventilator dependent because of a complete absence of ventilatory activity at follow-up time. They lacked any diaphragm response. The 10 other patients had recovered ventilatory activity and full (n = 9) or partial (n = 1) ventilatory autonomy. In nine cases, diaphragm response was present at least on one side, with a normal latency (right: 15.6 +/- 1.5 milliseconds; left: 16.2 +/- 2.2 milliseconds). The test had 100% specificity (95% CI 52 to 100) and 90% sensitivity (95% CI 54 to 99) to predict the recovery of ventilatory activity. CONCLUSION: Electrophysiologic studies of the diaphragm in response to transcranial magnetic stimulation may help predict the recovery of central respiratory paralysis within 1 year.

Adolescent↗