Phrenic nerve palsy: A rare cause of respiratory distress in newborn: A literature review

Abstract

Phrenic nerve palsy could result from multiple etiologies including birth injuries. It could often be associated with brachial plexus palsy. The phrenic nerve plays a major role in innervating the diaphragm. It is the only motor supply to the diaphragm and also acts a sensory nerve. In this palsy, the patient may present with diaphragmatic dysfunction, unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis, or bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. This diaphragmatic paralysis caused by phrenic nerve injury could lead to respiratory distress in the newborn. Thus, a newborn with respiratory distress and an elevated hemidiaphragm should be suspected for phrenic nerve palsy in the imaging studies and also in the differential diagnosis of respiratory distress in a newborn presenting with a history of traumatic delivery or brachial plexus palsy. We also herein report a case of phrenic nerve palsy in a newborn presenting with respiratory distress.