Evaluation of the phrenic nerve in patients with neuromuscular disorders

Twenty-six patients suffering from neuromuscular disorders underwent electrodiagnostic studies of the phrenic nerve as well as lung function and fluoroscopic evaluations. Fourteen (53.8%) out of the 26, manifested uni- or bilateral phrenic nerve involvement. Of these, only 5 (35.7%) showed a correlation between clinical complaints of shortness of breath and the pathological findings in the electrodiagnostic studies of the phrenic nerve and in the lung function and fluoroscopic evaluations. Another 5 (35.7%) patients had normal lung function and fluoroscopic evaluations, in spite of complaints of shortness of breath and pathological phrenic nerve conduction findings. It is recommended, therefore, that electrodiagnostic evaluation of both phrenic nerves be part of the evaluation of patients with neuromuscular disorders.