Can’t Breath: a case of unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis post CABG

Diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare cause of dyspnea one should always consider in patients of all ages. Its presentation can range in severity from being asymptomatic to acute respiratory failure 1, 7. There are a variety of treatments available to improve symptoms. However, time is the key determinant for recovery. Its etiologies can range from trauma secondary to cardiothoracic surgery, infectious diseases, malignancy, inflammatory and neuromuscular conditions 2, 3, 7. In our case report, we present a 71 years old Caucasian male with an atypical presentation who was found to have unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis one-month post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).