[Diaphragmatic eventration and paralysis in children].

Diaphragmatic relaxation is either congenital, due to muscular dysplasia ("eventration"), or acquired and related to phrenic nerve lesion ("paralysis"); phrenic nerve paralysis can be a complication of a difficult delivery (breech presentation or forceps) or of a surgical--mostly cardiac--procedure. The authors review their own experience (12 eventrations and 9 paralysis) and recall the pathophysiology, the symptoms and treatment of this condition. They recommend the surgical plication, as most experienced authors do, when the symptoms are not completely alleviated by medical treatment which should be of short duration and must include intubation and assisted ventilation in case of acute respiratory distress.