Unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm during pregnancy: Case report and literature review

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally and often does not need any additional diagnostic workup, but in the setting of pregnancy it may require additional investigations. We describe a patient in her last trimester of pregnancy (36th week) who presented to the hospital with symptoms suggestive of upper respiratory tract infection and with a chest radiograph showing left diaphragmatic eventration, for which she underwent thoracotomy and cesarean section. In the report, we review the normal respiratory changes associated with pregnancy and discuss the management of patients with diaphragmatic paralysis and pregnancy.