Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Paralysis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,549 records · Page 86Linked to original sources

Hormonal changes during a spontaneous attack of hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

We studied the hormonal changes during a spontaneous attack of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in a 20-year-old man, before and after treatment with potassium chloride. During paralysis, we observed high circulating levels of insulin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, growth hormone, ACTH and cortisol, most likely reflecting a condition of stress. Normalization of all these hormones occurred with recovery. Plasma aldosterone concentrations were normal. The increased plasma levels of insulin, but also of catecholamines and growth hormone, created a condition promoting potassium uptake in muscle cells. We suggest that stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of the paralytic attacks in this disorder.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Bilateral thalamic infarction associated with selective downward gaze paralysis.

A 34-year-old man presented with transient downward gaze paralysis and impairment of convergence together with prominent psychic disturbances. Cranial CT and MRI clearly demonstrated a symmetric infarction extending from the bilateral thalamus to the rostral medial midbrain. The existence of downward gaze paralysis following ischemic stroke is contributory to the diagnosis of not only the location of but also the responsible artery for the infarction.

Adult↗

Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis after mediastinal radiotherapy.

A 35-year-old man presented bilateral phrenic paralysis 7 months after radio-therapy for treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Diaphragmatic dysfunction appeared after complete lymphoma remission and 4 months after chemotherapy discontinuation. There were no other potential causes. Idiopathic diaphragmatic paralysis was unlikely because it is usually unilateral. Radiation-induced neuropathy is well documented in other nerves as the brachial plexus. The timing, the applied dose and the location of the nerve within the radiation field are suggestive of radiation-induced phrenic nerve damage. Partial recovery was achieved after 4 years' follow-up.

Adult↗

Idiopathic bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis: effectiveness of bilevel intermittent positive airway pressure.

A 49-year-old woman presented with idiopathic bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. The patient benefited from bilevel intermittent positive airway pressure-type assisted ventilation with rapid, excellent and long-lasting results. This case emphasizes the need for correct diagnosis and therapeutic management, particularly with a bilevel intermittent positive airway pressure-type home ventilation technique, in idiopathic bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.

Female↗

Analysis of the prognosis and the recovery process of profound facial nerve paralysis secondary to acoustic neuroma resection.

The prognosis and the recovery process of facial nerve paralysis were reviewed in 74 patients who, despite preservation of nerve continuity, showed no facial movement after acoustic neuroma resection. In 50 or 67.6% of patients, facial movement recovered sufficiently so as not to require any reanimation procedures. However, no apparent sign of remission was observed for 7-49 months in the other 24 patients (32.4%), and hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis was performed in 20 of these patients. When remission was seen, the first sign of muscle movement appeared most frequently after 3-4 months but, in a small number of patients, it was also seen within 1.5 months or after 5-10 months. Based upon these results, the timing of reanimation procedures for facial nerve paralysis following acoustic neuroma resection is discussed.

Adult↗

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis following radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Cranial nerve palsies are uncommon late sequelae of radiation therapy. We present a rare case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis secondary to radiation-induced recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. The exact mechanism accounting for radiation-induced nerve damage is unknown. The complication may occur years following radiation therapy thus making a causal relationship difficult. As there is no treatment available, the therapy should aim to improve the functional impairment produced by the nerve involved.

Carcinoma↗

Effect of acute diaphragm paralysis on ventilation in awake and sleeping dogs.

The mechanisms responsible for hypoventilation during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep in patients with diaphragmatic weakness are not clear. Therefore, we studied the effects of unilateral (UDP) and bilateral (BDP) diaphragmatic paralysis on ventilation during wakefulness (W), slow-wave sleep (SWS), and REM sleep. Studies were performed in 3 trained dogs in which small silicone cuffs had been implanted surgically around the phrenic nerves. Reversible diaphragmatic paralysis was induced during wakefulness or sleep by bathing the phrenic nerves in local anesthetic injected through a catheter attached to the phrenic cuffs. The UDP reduced abdominal expansion and increased rib cage expansion, but had no effect on minute volume of ventilation (VI) or end-tidal PCO2 (PACO2). The BDP produced marked abdominal paradox, but did not reduce VI during W or SWS and had no effect on tidal volume or respiratory frequency. In contrast, during REM sleep, VI was decreased by an average of 21% mainly because of a fall in tidal volume, and PACO2 increased by 2.4 mm Hg compared with that during the intact state. Furthermore, addition of extra dead space to the breathing circuit, which was well tolerated in intact dogs, led to a progressive increase in PACO2 during BDP and to arousal from sleep. The findings indicate that acute BDP does not impair ventilation during quiet W or SWS, but reduces ventilation during REM sleep, supporting the concept that during REM sleep maintenance of ventilation is critically dependent on diaphragmatic compensation for intercostal and accessory muscle inhibition.

Animals↗

Dyspnea on immersion: mechanisms in patients with bilateral diaphragm paralysis.

Patients with bilateral diaphragm paralysis are able to inflate their lungs by two mechanisms: relaxing the abdominal wall or expanding the rib cage. Each maneuver promotes lung expansion by shifting support of the abdominal contents from the abdominal wall to the diaphragm. We describe a patient with bilateral diaphragm paralysis who experienced acute dyspnea when immersed in water to the level of the abdomen and discuss the precipitation of dyspnea in the context of the strategies available to these patients for lung inflation.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Effect of tidal volume on respiratory system elastance and resistance during anesthesia and paralysis.

Recent studies have shown that the mechanical properties of the respiratory system at normal breathing frequency in awake humans depend on tidal volume. Few measurements of respiratory system properties during anesthesia have accounted for this dependence. From measurements of airway pressure, flow and esophageal pressure, we calculated elastances and resistances of the total respiratory system (Ers and Rrs), chest wall (Ecw and Rcw), and lungs (El and Rl) in supine human volunteers during quasisinusoidal volume forcing in a normal range of breathing (250 to 800 ml) at normal breathing frequency (0.2 Hz). Measurements were made (1) with subjects awake and voluntarily relaxed; (2) after isoflurane-N2O anesthesia (end-tidal isoflurane concentration 0.3 to 0.5%); and (3) after complete muscle paralysis with vecuronium. In all conditions, Ers, Ecw, El, Rrs, and Rcw decreased at 800 ml tidal volume compared with 250 ml; Rl showed a similar decrease in awake measurements only. Compared with awake measurements, each elastance tended to increase after anesthesia, but only the increase in Ers was significant. Compared with anesthesia, there was no effect of paralysis on any measurement. We conclude that (1) tidal volume dependence of respiratory system properties in the normal range of breathing occurs in the absence of muscle activity; (2) anesthesia increases Ers and (3) respiratory muscle activity appears to be inhibited by isoflurane-N2O anesthesia at end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 0.3 to 0.5% during normocapnia.

Adult↗

Improved diaphragmatic function after surgical plication for unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.

We studied pulmonary function tests, maximal voluntary ventilation, arterial blood gases, and respiratory muscle strength and recruitment pattern in a 37-yr-old symptomatic man before and after surgical plication for a left unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. After plication, FVC, FEV1, TLC and FRC increased, whereas residual volume remained unchanged. Arterial PO2 improved from 70 to 87 mm Hg. Diaphragmatic strength, as expressed by the maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure increased from 30 to 75 cm H2O, and maximal voluntary ventilation increased from 74 to 123 L/min. Ventilatory muscle recruitment also changed: there was a shift from a positive to a negative delta Pg/delta Ppl slope during tidal breathing. This indicates more effective diaphragmatic recruitment after the procedure. We conclude that surgical plication may be of benefit to patients with symptomatic unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. The improvement is due to improved respiratory muscle function.

Adult↗

Inspiratory muscle function in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.

Pulmonary function has been extensively studied in unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (UDP), but there is scarce information regarding inspiratory muscle function in this condition. We therefore studied inspiratory muscle function in 8 patients with UDP (Group 1: age 48.3 +/- 2.1 yr of age, means +/- SD) as well as in 7 patients with UDP and concomitant cardiopulmonary disease (Group 2: 60.6 +/- 13 yr of age). Twelve young normal subjects were also studied (32.3 +/- 7.7 yr of age). Maximal static transdiaphragmatic and inspiratory mouth pressure were measured at FRC. Gastric (Pga), esophageal (Pes), and transdiaphragmatic (Pdi) pressure swings were measured during quiet breathing. There was no difference in inspiratory muscle function in left-sided versus right-sided UDP. Paradoxical gastric pressure swings were observed in 4 patients from Group 1 and in 5 from Group 2. In 2 patients from Group 1 and 1 from Group 2, Pga did not change during quiet breathing. In the remaining 3 patients, Pga swings were similar to those observed in the normal subjects. Maximal Pdi was reduced in half of the patients from Group 1 and in all of the patients from Group 2. Maximal inspiratory pressure was below normal values in 2 patients from Group 1 and in all patients from Group 2. We conclude that unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is associated with an abnormal pattern of use of respiratory muscles during quiet breathing, characterized by the use of intercostal and accessory inspiratory muscle or compensatory use of abdominal expiratory muscles. Inspiratory muscle strength was impaired in some of the patients, and it worsened when cardiopulmonary disease was present.

Adult↗

The utility of electromyographic biofeedback in the treatment of conversion paralysis.

Conversion paralysis has a poor prognosis when there is evidence of nonresponse to previous treatment, long duration, and secondary atrophy of the "paralyzed" muscles. The authors present four such cases in which conversion paralysis was treated successfully by means of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback. Each of the four patients also suffered from a chronic pain condition. Results from statistical analyses indicated that the four patients demonstrated significant improvement in the functional capacity of the "paralyzed" muscles as measured by isometric maximum voluntary contraction and EMG activity. The improvements occurred without explicit psychotherapy and suggest that behavioral modification techniques alone may be helpful in such cases.

Adult↗

Neuromuscular disorders presenting as congenital bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Congenital bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) can be associated with an underlying neuromuscular disorder, and may present before other features of the neuromuscular disorder become apparent. All infants less than 12 months of age presenting with BVCP between July 1987 and July 1999 at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, in whom a neuromuscular disorder was subsequently diagnosed were followed. Three children in whom BVCP was diagnosed soon after birth and before recognition of an underlying neuromuscular disorder were identified. All presented with upper airway obstructive symptoms at birth, had a diagnosis of bilateral abductor vocal cord paralysis made at awake flexible laryngoscopy, and had no underlying structural laryngeal abnormality on microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. Two children required a tracheostomy, and 1 child was weaned from nasopharyngeal continuous positive airway pressure after 3 weeks. Subsequent neuromuscular symptoms were recognized between 4 months and 7 years later, leading to diagnoses of facioscapulohumeral myopathy, spinal muscular atrophy, and congenital myasthenia gravis. In each case, the prognosis for recovery from symptoms related to BVCP reflected that of the underlying neuromuscular disorder. This experience suggests that congenital BVCP may be a feature of an unrecognized neuromuscular condition. This possibility should be considered particularly in the presence of associated neurodevelopmental or neuromuscular dysfunction, or in cases in which BVCP is progressive.

Female↗

Type I thyroplasty for acute unilateral vocal fold paralysis following intrathoracic surgery.

Patients who undergo intrathoracic operative procedures for malignancy may require sacrifice of a recurrent laryngeal nerve. Postoperative vocal fold paralysis may lead to diminished cough with secretion retention, aspiration, and life-endangering pneumonia. This study retrospectively reviews our institution's experience of 23 patients who underwent type I thyroplasty within the 2-week (acute) period after thoracic surgery. Primary lung cancer (n = 16) was the most common disease. Upper lobectomy (n = 9) and pneumonectomy (n = 7) were the most frequent surgical procedures. Silicone medialization alone (n = 11) or with arytenoid adduction (n = 12) was performed. There were no significant postoperative complications. Improvements in hoarseness (86%), dyspnea (72%), dysphagia (50%), and aspiration (79%) were noted. Pulmonary status improved after vocal fold medialization, as reflected by decreased need for therapeutic bronchoscopy in the majority of patients in the postoperative period. Type I thyroplasty for vocal fold paralysis in the acute phase following thoracic surgery is well tolerated and is associated with improved patient outcome with no postoperative deaths in this high-risk patient population.

Arytenoid Cartilage↗

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis and adhesion in anterior spinal artery syndrome.

The purpose of this report is to present a rare case of anterior spinal artery syndrome (ASAS) in which there proved to be a combined lesion of paralysis and adhesion. A 26-year-old woman with a history of ASAS complained of difficulty of tracheal decannulation. In 1988, she was intubated and underwent tracheotomy because of respiratory muscle weakness, and she was decannulated in 1990. In 1998, she had cesarean delivery under general anesthesia, and postdelivery dyspnea necessitated tracheotomy again. On her first visit to us, endoscopic examination revealed bilateral vocal fold immobility at the midline without an apparent web. Direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia revealed a posterior glottic adhesion and scarring, which were treated by excision of the scar and local steroid injection. The left vocal fold gradually regained mobility, permitting decannulation 3 months after treatment. This complicated vocal fold immobility was found to be due to adhesion and partial paralysis combined.

Adult↗

Role of medialization in the improvement of breath control in unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

A prospective study was performed on 18 adults to analyze disturbances of voice and respiratory function in unilateral vocal fold paralysis and the role of medialization in the improvement of breath control. In addition to physical examination, an acoustic and aerodynamic analysis, as well as patient self-assessment, were performed both before and after medialization (14 fat injections, 4 thyroplasties) to evaluate voice and both phonatory breath control and respiratory function outcome. Preoperative and postoperative results, at short, middle, and long term, were compared to data from 14 control subjects and evaluated by statistical analysis. Preoperative acoustic and aerodynamic parameters were significantly disturbed in comparison to controls. Independently of the pulmonary status, medialization induced an improvement in most of the parameters at short and long terms, whereas a diminished effect was observed at middle term. Phonatory breath control, as evaluated by maximum phonation time, mean flow rate, and expired volume, was statistically improved, with the best results being obtained in women. From the questionnaire, it was clear that voice, as well as phonatory breath control and respiratory function, showed considerable improvement, although some difficulties persisted during effort. This study demonstrates that there is a disturbance of phonatory breath control and respiratory function in adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Improvement following medialization supports the concept that the respiratory dysfunction seen beforehand is most probably the result of air escape rather than laryngeal obstruction. Although medialization may provoke an extrathoracic obstruction, its feature of variability appears to improve breath control.

Adult↗

Effect of tensor veli palatini muscle paralysis on eustachian tube mechanics.

Several physiological functions, such as regulating middle ear (ME) pressure and clearing ME fluid into the nasopharynx, require an opening of the collapsed eustachian tube (ET). The ability to perform these functions has been related to several mechanical properties of the ET: opening pressure (Popen), compliance (ETC), and hysteresis (eta). These global properties may be influenced by the mechanics of the surrounding tissue and/or the mucosa-air interface. In this study, we investigated the influence of tissue mechanics by paralyzing the right tensor veli palatini (TVP) muscle in 12 cynomolgus monkeys via botulinum toxin injection. A previously developed modified forced-response protocol was used to measure Popen, ETC, and eta under normal conditions and after muscle paralysis. The loss of muscle tone and/or stiffness resulted in a significant decrease in Popen (p < .01) and a significant increase in ETC (p < .01). In addition, muscle paralysis reduced the viscoelastic properties of the TVP muscle and therefore resulted in a significant decrease in eta (p < .05). A comparison with previous measurements on the influence of surface tension mechanics indicates that the ET's compliance is primarily determined by tissue elastic properties. The ET hysteresis, however, is equally affected by viscoelastic tissue properties and surface tension hysteretic properties. Knowledge of how these physical components affect the global mechanical environment may lead to improved treatments for ET dysfunction that target the underlying mechanical abnormality.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗