Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis following paediatric cardiac surgery: Experience of four cases at the royal hospital, Muscat, Oman

Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (BDP) is a rare complication of paediatric cardiac surgery. We report four children who developed BDP following cardiac surgery who were managed at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between 2009 and 2014. All four children suffered severe respiratory distress soon after extubation and required re-intubation within two hours. In addition, all of the children underwent a tracheostomy as an interim method for ventilation. The four children were successfully weaned from positive pressure ventilation following the functional recovery of at least one side of the diaphragm.