[Diaphragm disorders in adults]

Diaphragm disorders in adults. Diaphragm diseases, functional particularly, are little known and often underestimated by clinicians. Whether a fortuitous discovery on a chest x-ray showing an elevation of the hemidiaphragm or revealed by dyspnea, these abnormalities of the diaphragm require further investigations. The objective is to confirm the diagnosis, understanding the mechanism, to clarify the functional consequences and to consider treatment. Some dysfunctions may be temporary, contraindicating any emergency treatment apart from acute ruptures. Only symptomatic cases require a surgical treatment. The type of surgery depends on the cause and can range from simple repair of a diaphragmatic defect, diaphragm plication to restore tensioning and even phrenic pacing in very rare cases.