Constant negative pressure in the treatment of diaphragmatic paralysis secondary to birth injury.

A newborn infant with right Erb palsy and diaphragmatic paralysis was treated with CNP for respiratory failure. There was clinical and arterial blood gas improvement. Several months after treatment, respiratory symptoms had disappeared, but fluoroscopy demonstrated persistence of diaphragmatic paralysis. A review of the literature is included. CNP may allow spontaneous recovery while permitting adequate nutrition.