Neurogenic respiratory failure: a 5-year experience using implantable phrenic nerve stimulators.
During the past 5 years, 20 phrenic nerve stimulators have been implanted in 11 patients who were ventilator dependent because of neurogenic respiratory failure. Ten patients had traumatic spinal cord lesions; the remaining patient suffered from a progressive demyelinating disease. There was no operative mortality. Complications included 1 stimulator malfunction and 1 pneumothorax. In spite of adjacent tracheostomies, there were no infections or wound complications. Of the 20 stimulators implanted, 13 initially produced good diaphragmatic function, 2 had fair function, and 5 had little or not function. Three patients became completely independent of their ventilators; 6 became partially independent, thus simplifying nursing care. There were no late complications. As of December, 1979, 7 patients had benefited or were continuing to benefit from phrenic nerve stimulation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000502:physiology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical