The Prognosis in Idiopathic Diaphragmatic Paralysis

¹ Section of Medicine
² Section of Surgery.

Forty cases of idiopathic diaphragmatic paralysis were studied in an effort to learn something of the permanence of the condition. Follow-up information was available in 87 per cent, including roentgenohogic evidence in 68 per cent. None of the patients died or had serious illness during the period of observation, which ranged from 4 months to 19 years. Twenty-six per cent of the traced patients exhibited spontaneous return of the diaphragm to apparently normal function, as evidenced by re-examination after intervals ranging from 2 to 19 years. The findings indicate that idiopathic diaphragmatic paralysis is a benign condition, and that without untoward associated findings unilateral idiopathic phrenic paralysis is seldom, if ever, a harbinger of serious disease. Further, the study suggests that in phrenic paralysis there is a likelihood of at least 25 per cent that complete or partial recovery of normal diaphragmatic function will occur spontaneously.