title: Electrophrenic respiration in patients with craniocervical trauma.
abstract: We implanted electrophrenic respiration (EPR) units in 15 apneic quadriplegic patients with brain stem or high cervical cord injury. 11 of the patients achieved full-time respiration with EPR and another 2 achieved half-time respiration. Despite the loss of patients due to unrelated problems, 7 now use EPR continuously, 1 for 18 years. The factors involved in the significant success rate with EPR are discussed from the point of view of a neurosurgeon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sharkey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000293:injuries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*