[Bilateral diaphragmatic plication for an adult patient]

Bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis is a very rare complication in open-heart surgery. An 65-year-old woman sustained respiratory distress after coronary artery bypass grafting because of bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis. Bilateral diaphragmatic plication was performed on the 43rd postoperative day. She successfully weaned from ventilator support without difficulty a few days after plication. We believe that surgical plication of the diaphragm is a safe and effective technique for a distressed adult patient with paralyzed diaphragm.