Open AccessDiaphragm Pacing as an Adjunct in Respiratory Insufficiency
Author(s) -
Ronald F. Young
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
neurosurgery/neurosurgery online
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1081-1281
pISSN - 0148-396X
DOI - 10.1227/00006123-197801000-00009
Subject(s) - medicine , diaphragm (acoustics) , respiratory system , adjunct , phrenic nerve , intensive care medicine , linguistics , philosophy , physics , acoustics , loudspeaker
Most neurosurgical patients with permanent partial or complete respiratory insufficiency are managed with a mechanical ventilator and tracheostomy. This method presents many medical, technical, emotional, and social problems. A case report is presented that illustrates the potential usefulness of electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve (“diaphragm pacing”) as an alternate method of therapy for respiratory insufficiency. This paper outlines the indications for, methods of, and problems with such a system and is intended to make its availability more widely appreciated among neurosurgeons.