Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets
Published on: May 11, 2015
Pulmonary blood flow in children with univentricular heart and unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis
Tobias Kratz1, Lisa Gaukstern1, Walter Wiebe2
1Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Objectives:
Spontaneous breathing has an important effect on pulmonary arterial blood flow in patients with Glenn/Fontan circulation. Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) is a frequent complication after heart surgery in congenital heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of unilateral DP on blood flow distribution in the pulmonary arteries with Glenn/Fontan circulation.
Methods:
Magnetic resonance phase-contrast imaging was used to evaluate stroke volume index (SVI) in the left and right pulmonary arteries in patients with Glenn/Fontan circulation with unilateral DP. Data for 18 patients with univentricular heart and unilateral DP were analysed, 8 in the Glenn stage and 10 in the Fontan stage. Ten patients had right-sided DP, and 8 had left-sided DP. A diaphragmatic plication was performed in 7 patients. The control group consisted of 36 patients with Glenn (n = 16)/Fontan (n = 20) circulation without DP.
Results:
In both left- and right-sided DP, the SVI to the ipsilateral side was significantly lower than in controls [2.81 (1.45-4.50) ml/m2 left vs 11.97 (7.36-16.37) ml/m2 in controls, P < 0.0002; 8.2 (4.49-12.64) ml/m2 with right vs 12.64 (9.66-16.61) ml/m2 in controls; P = 0.0284]. The SVI to the contralateral side showed a slight but non-significant increase in the presence of unilateral DP.
Conclusions:
Unilateral DP in patients with Glenn/Fontan circulation has a negative impact on pulmonary arterial SVI on the side of the paralysis.
More Related Videos
07:09Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise
Published on: February 20, 2017
08:44Author Spotlight: Integrating Alveolar-Capillary Reserve Measurements in Exercise Adaptation and Therapeutic Strategies
Published on: February 2, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation
Pulmonary Ventilation: Inhalation
Boyle's law becomes particularly pertinent when examining respiratory...
Overview of Pulmonary Circulation
The process begins with the right ventricle of the heart pumping deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary trunk. This large vessel extends about 5 centimeters before splitting into the left and right pulmonary arteries. These arteries...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Respiratory Volumes and Capacities