Diaphragmatic paralysis after pediatric heart surgery: usefulness of non-invasive ventilation.

Diaphragmatic paralysis after cardiac surgery is an important complication especially in infants. We report a child who developed diaphragmatic paralysis, atelectasis, bronchomalasia and respiratory failure following cardiac surgery. Ventilatory support alleviated respiratory distress in this child. This report illustrates the usefulness of invasive and non-invasive ventilatory support for a pediatric patient with diaphragmatic paralysis.