Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
05:56

Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit

Published on: September 6, 2024

Transient elevation of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm associated with pneumonia

Andrew Fretzayas1, Maria Moustaki, Polyxeni Nicolaidou

  • 1University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.

Canadian Respiratory Journal
|November 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric pneumonia can cause temporary ipsilateral diaphragm elevation, a finding not associated with different clinical or lab results. This diaphragm elevation typically resolves within six to eight weeks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Pediatric Radiology

Background:

  • Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection in children.
  • Diaphragmatic abnormalities can occur in pediatric respiratory illnesses.

Observation:

  • Seventeen children with lobar or segmental pneumonia presented with ipsilateral diaphragm elevation.
  • No significant differences in clinical or laboratory findings were noted compared to children with pneumonia without diaphragm elevation.

Findings:

  • Ipsilateral diaphragm elevation in pediatric pneumonia is a transient finding.
  • Diaphragm elevation resolved on follow-up chest X-rays taken six to eight weeks later.

Implications:

  • Diaphragm elevation may be an incidental radiographic finding in pediatric pneumonia.
  • This finding does not appear to indicate a poorer prognosis or necessitate different management strategies.

More Related Videos

Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus06:15

Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus

Published on: March 6, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology01:08

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax means the presence of air in the pleural space — the thin potential gap between the visceral and parietal pleura. This condition disrupts the normal pressure balance that keeps the lungs inflated, leading to partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.Normal physiologyUnder normal conditions, the pleural space maintains a slightly negative intrapleural pressure, which keeps the lungs expanded against the chest wall. This negative pressure creates a delicate balance between...
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
Pneumothorax-II01:27

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax is a medical condition defined by the buildup of air in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation of air can lead to partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in a range of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical presentation and effective management strategies is crucial for healthcare professionals in providing timely and appropriate care to individuals with pneumothorax.
Clinical Manifestations:
Pneumothorax-I01:26

Pneumothorax-I

A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...