Effects of hemiplegy on pulmonary function and diaphragmatic dome displacement

We evaluated the diaphragmatic excursion, volumetric measurement, maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), lung function tests (forced vital capacity - FVC, forced expiratory volume in the first second - FEV1, mean forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of the FVC maneuver - FEF25-75%, peak expiratory flow - PEF and maximal voluntary ventilation - MVV), displacement of the domes diaphragmatics with ultrasonography and inspiratory capacity, the MAS scale (Motor Assessment Scale) in 20 hemiplegic patients volunteers and eight controls. In right-side hemiplegia, movement was 4.97 ± 0.78 cm and 4.20 ± 1.45 cm for the right and left domes of the diaphragm, respectively, whereas these values were 4.42 ± 0.92 cm and 4.66 ± 1.17 cm in left-side hemiplegia. PImax was −48.75 ± 27.5 cmH2O in right-side hemiplegic patients and −74.17 ± 13.57 cmH2O in left-side hemiplegic patients. Right-side hemiplegia exhibited greater impairment of the respiratory muscles than left-side hemiplegia due to the physiologic positioning of the domes of the diaphragm which may be compromised for hemiplegia.