Although etiology and pathology of symptomatic diaphragm paralysis and eventration are distinct, their treatments are the same: to reduce dysfunctional caudal excursion of the diaphragm during inspiration by plication. Minimally invasive diaphragm plication techniques have emerged as equally effective and less morbid alternatives to open plication. This review focuses on the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of diaphragmatic eventration or paralysis in adults.
2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.