Development of the Diaphragmatic Paralysis Questionnaire: a simple tool for patient relevant outcome

Results of the Diaphragmatic Plication Database: 10 Years' Experience

BACKGROUND

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis or paresis (UDP) in adults is an often overlooked disease which relevantly impairs the patient's lung function and quality of life. Particularly in idiopathic UDP, there is no evidence for conservative therapy and only little evidence for surgical therapy.

METHODS

The method involves retrospective single-center analysis of patients with UDP persistent for at least 1 year who were operated by diaphragmatic resection, plication, and augmentation with a polypropylene mesh. The patients were tested for lung and diaphragmatic function, six-minute walk test (6MWT), and blood gas analysis before, 3 and 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS

In total, 85 patients received surgery for UDP. The most frequent reasons for UDP were idiopathic (67%), iatrogenic (mainly cardiac and cervical spine surgery; 24%), and trauma (9%). The mean operation time was 84 ± 24 minutes, the length of hospital stay 8.4 ± 3.9 days, chest tubes were removed after 11.7 ± 4.1 days. Overall morbidity was 42%, mortality 0%. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in supine position improved by 12.4% absolute, vital capacity by 11.8% absolute, and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure by 1.4 kPa 12 months after surgery (p <0.001 each). Total lung capacity increased by 6.8% absolute at 12 months (p = 0.001) The 6MWT distance improved by 45.9 m at 3 months and 50.9 m at 12 months (p = 0.001, each).

CONCLUSION

Surgical therapy for UDP is highly effective in the long term. The superiority over conservative treatments needs to be evaluated prospectively with standardized physiotherapeutic protocols. FEV1 in supine position and 6MWT are easy to perform tests and represent statistically and patient-relevant outcomes.

[Robotic Diaphragm Plication]

Acquired unilateral hemidiaphragm elevation is characterised by dyspnoea, which is typically aggravated when lying down, bending over or during swimming. The most common causes are idiopathic or due to injury to the phrenic nerve during cervical or cardio-thoracic surgery. To date, surgical diaphragm plication remains the only effective treatment. The aim of the procedure is to plicate the diaphragm to restore its tension and thus improve breathing mechanics, increase the available space for the lung and reduce compression from abdominal organs. In the past, various techniques using open and minimally invasive approaches have been described. Robot-assisted thoracoscopic diaphragm plication combines the advantages of a minimally invasive approach with excellent visualisation and freedom of movement. It was shown to be a safe technique which is easy to establish and can significantly improve pulmonary function.

Robotic diaphragm plication: functional and surgical outcomes of a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Diaphragm plication remains the only effective treatment for diaphragm paralysis. Robot-assisted thoracoscopic (RATS) diaphragm plication combines advantages of open and thoracoscopic techniques. We present our experiences focussing on lung-function improvement and surgical outcome.

METHODS

In this single-center retrospective study with comparative analysis, perioperative data of all patients who underwent RATS or thoracoscopic (VATS) diaphragm plication between 2015 and 2022 at our institution were assessed. Functional outcome was analysed with pre- and postoperative pulmonary function tests in sitting and supine position.

RESULTS

We included 43 diaphragm plications, of which 31 were performed via RATS. Morbidity in the RATS- and VATS-cohort were 13 and 8%, respectively (p = 0.64), without any major complication (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III, 0%). Surgical time for RATS diaphragm plication was reduced drastically with a median operating time for the first 16 patients of 136 min (range 84-185) and 84 min (range 56-122) for the most recent 15 patients (p < 0.0001). Pulmonary function testing after RATS-plication showed a mean increase in vital capacity (VC) of 9% (SD 8, p < 0.0001) and of 7% (SD 9, p = 0.0009) in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) when sitting and 9% (SD 8, p < 0.0001) for VC as well as 10% (SD 8, p = 0.0001) for FEV1 when in supine position.

CONCLUSION

RATS diaphragm plication is a very safe and feasible approach, yielding good results in improving patients' pulmonary function. Further studies are required to elucidate possible advantages over VATS or open approaches.

A review of health-related quality of life issues in children suffering from certain key otolaryngological illnesses

BACKGROUND

The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) concept is nowadays increasingly and more broadly used for helping evaluate the effectiveness of medical treatment, superseding the earlier "quality of life" approach. The HRQoL concept likewise applies to otolaryngology and this narrative review study is focused on HRQoL outcomes in four key childhood otolaryngological diseases as reported in the literature.

STUDY AIM

To retrospectively evaluate the literature on measuring HRQoL in children suffering from selected otolaryngological illnesses, during treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Published studies/case reports were searched for in Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and ORCID on the quality of life based on paediatric patient questionnaires, whether completed by subjects themselves or by their parents (by proxy). The following key words were used: health quality of life, otolaryngology/ENT, pediatrics/paediatrics. Studies before 1999 were omitted because hitherto, the "quality of life" had been imprecisely defined thus rendering any subsequent comparisions problematic.

RESULTS

HRQoL scores and well-being were found to significantly deteriorate in child patients suffering from four important otolaryngological disorders: chronic sinusitis, nasal septum deviation, adenoid hypertrophy and hearing disease. The main problems found were infection, inflammation, disruption to family life and child-parental interaction, fitness-related issues, reduced ENT patencies and apnea.

CONCLUSIONS

The HRQoL appears to significantly deteriorate in children suffering from otolaryngological diseases. Further such studies are needed for other ENT diseases.