Respiratory failure due to diaphragm paralysis after brachial plexus injury diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BMJ Pub. Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101526291 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1757-790X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 1757790X NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Case Rep Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BMJ Pub. Group
    • Subject Terms:
      Brachial Plexus*/injuries ; Respiratory Insufficiency*/complications ; Respiratory Insufficiency*/etiology ; Respiratory Paralysis*/complications ; Respiratory Paralysis*/etiology; Diaphragm/diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Paralysis/etiology ; Point-of-Care Systems
    • Abstract:
      A man in his fifties was injured in a traffic accident and diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage, liver injury, and fractures of the rib, right clavicle, right scapula and right femur. He also presented with motor and sensory disturbances of the right upper extremity and was suspected of having a brachial plexus injury. After undergoing mechanical ventilation due to multiple traumas, he was extubated. However, he developed acute respiratory failure and required reintubation. Respiratory symptoms were not clear until just before reintubation. The diagnosis of right diaphragm paralysis was made using point-of-care ultrasound with no other findings that could cause respiratory failure. MRI led to the diagnosis of brachial plexus injury, which likely caused diaphragm paralysis. Point-of-care ultrasound provided a clear visualisation and rapid bedside diagnosis of diaphragm paralysis, which can be challenging to diagnose while ruling out other causes of respiratory failure.
      Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.
      (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
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    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: adult intensive care; lung function; orthopaedics; trauma
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20220301 Date Completed: 20220302 Latest Revision: 20220318
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      PMC8886360
    • Accession Number:
      10.1136/bcr-2021-246923
    • Accession Number:
      35228232