Author/Authors :
Talha Ayub, Muhammad Internal Medicine - John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County - IL (complete form) - Chicago, USA , Ayub, Tooba Internal Medicine - John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County - IL (complete form) - Chicago, USA , Rasool, Wajeeha Internal Medicine - AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital - Evanston - IL (complete form) - Evanston, USA , Shoaib Khan, Muhammad Internal Medicine - Marshfield Clinic Health System - Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA , Ishaq, Muhammad Internal Medicine - Marshfield Clinic Health System - Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA , Mba, Benjamin Internal Medicine - John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County - IL (complete form) - Chicago, USA
Abstract :
Background: Respiratory failure secondary to bilateral diabetic phrenic neuropathy is an uncommon clinical scenario. It is challenging to treat and often results in the need for long-term respiratory support.
Case Presentation: We report a patient with long standing diabetes mellitus (DM) who presented with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. He was subsequently found to have reduced phrenic nerve and diaphragm compound action potential amplitude bilaterally on nerve conduction studies.
Conclusion: Diabetic patients with unexplained shortness of breath should raise suspicion for diaphragmatic paresis from phrenic neuropathy.
