Normal values for phrenic nerve latency in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Electrophysiology
• Nerve Conduction Studies

Background:

• Phrenic nerve latency is a crucial electrophysiological parameter.
• Previous studies on normal pediatric phrenic nerve latency have shown inconsistencies.
• Establishing normative data is essential for diagnosing phrenic nerve dysfunction in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present comprehensive data on normal phrenic nerve latency in a large pediatric cohort.
• To identify age-specific reference values for phrenic nerve conduction time.
• To highlight discrepancies with existing literature.

Main Methods:

• Phrenic nerve latency was measured in a large group of healthy children.
• Data were collected across various age ranges from infancy to adolescence.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine normative values and relationships.

Main Results:

• Phrenic nerve latency exhibits a curvilinear relationship with age in children.
• Average latency is 6.0 ms (0-6 months), decreases to 4.8 ms (1-2 years), and increases to 6.3 ms (10-18 years).
• Significant differences were observed compared to previous studies.

Conclusions:

• The findings establish new, detailed normative data for pediatric phrenic nerve latency.
• Age-specific reference ranges are crucial for accurate clinical interpretation.
• This study provides the largest dataset to date for normal phrenic nerve latency in children.