English abstract
Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (BDP) is a rare complication of paediatric cardiac surgery. We report
four children who developed BDP following cardiac surgery who were managed at the Royal Hospital, Muscat,
Oman, between 2009 and 2014. All four children suffered severe respiratory distress soon after extubation and
required re-intubation within two hours. In addition, all of the children underwent a tracheostomy as an interim
method for ventilation. The four children were successfully weaned from positive pressure ventilation following the
functional recovery of at least one side of the diaphragm.
