Abstract

Diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) can occur due to central nervous system pathology or peripheral nerve injury. Direct injury to the phrenic nerve after intercostal chest drain (ICD) insertion for treatment of pneumothorax is an infrequent complication. We present a 4-month-old infant, ex-preterm 27 weeks, who was admitted to a tertiary care hospital paediatric intensive care unit in Muscat, Oman, in 2023 with severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and required intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). His illness was complicated by right-side pneumothorax that required ICD insertion. Post-extubation, he had persistent tachypnoea with the inability to be weaned from non-invasive ventilation. Chest X-ray (CXR) and fluoroscopy showed a high right diaphragm dome with paradoxical movements. He improved dramatically after the plication of the right diaphragm and was discharged home on the 9th day after the plication.

Publication details

DOI
10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060
Journal
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 154-158
Publisher
Sultan Qaboos University
Open access
Gold open access
License
CC BY-ND 4.0

Cite this article

APA 7

Al Ghafri, M., Al Hanshi, S., Fouad, A. E., & M., A. (2025). Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), 154-158. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060

MLA 9

Al Ghafri, Mohammed, et al. "Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 2025, pp. 154-158. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060.

Chicago (author–date)

Al Ghafri, Mohammed, Said Al Hanshi, Ahmad E. Fouad, and Ahmed M. 2025. "Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review." Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 25 (1): 154-158. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060.

Harvard

Al Ghafri, M., Al Hanshi, S., Fouad, A. E. and M., A. (2025) 'Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 25(1), pp. 154-158. doi:10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060.

Vancouver

Al Ghafri M, Al Hanshi S, Fouad AE, M. A. Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;25(1):154-158. doi:10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060

IEEE

M. Al Ghafri, S. Al Hanshi, A. E. Fouad, and A. M., "Diaphragmatic Paralysis Following Chest Tube Insertion in an Infant: Case report and literature review," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 154-158, 2025, doi: 10.18295/squmj.10.2024.060.