Short- and Long-term Effects of Robot-assisted Plication in Diaphragmatic Paralysis

In the researchers' words

Diaphragmatic paralysis may lead to severe symptoms such as breathlessness and reduced physical capacity. Diaphragmatic plication using Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) is a minimally invasive surgical technique developed to improve lung function by correcting diaphragmatic elevation. While its benefits have been reported in retrospective reports, prospective studies are lacking. This prospective observational cohort study aimsto evaluate the short- and long-term effects of robot-assisted diaphragmatic plication on subjective breathlessness, physical performance, lung function, blood gases, and imaging findings at five Swedish university hospitals: Gothenburg, Linköping, Lund, Umeå, and Uppsala. Patients will be assessed preoperatively and postoperatively after one to three months and after one and three years.