Phrenic Nerve Injury During Cardiac Surgery: Mechanisms, Management and Prevention

Phrenic nerve injury is a well-recognised complication of cardiac surgery that can lead to disabling effects from diaphragmatic dysfunction, especially in children and patients with a history of chronic obstructive airway disease. Various mechanisms of injury have been recognised including hypothermia, mechanical trauma and possibly ischaemia. A clear understanding of these mechanisms is important in order to modify surgical techniques to prevent this serious complication of cardiac surgery Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). All rights reserved.