[Non-invasive ventilation in patients with diaphragmatic paralysis. Case report]

Background Diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) is a rare disease, usually secondary to systemic processes, although idiopathic forms have been described. Aim To describe the use of non-invasive ventilation as a treatment to patients with DP. Material and methods Descriptive study about consecutive cases of DP in a general hospital. Results It has been described 4 patients, all of them with a diminished the maximum mouth pressures and vital capacity in supine position. Three patients presented hypercapnia, and one of them, required intubation with invasive mechanical ventilation. All patients were treated with non-invasive positive pressure (NPPV) mode S/T bilevel, allowing with a reduction in the PCO2, improvement in the symptoms and in the parameters to the nocturnal respiratory polygraphy. Conclusions Use of NPPV in patients with DP could provide a clinical improvement and contributing to recovery of lung functionality that make it recommendable in selected cases.