title: Determination of the best electrode position for recording of the diaphragm compound muscle action potential.
abstract: To determine the optimal recording site for phrenic nerve conduction studies, six different recording techniques were compared in 11 healthy volunteers (22 phrenic nerves). The mean diaphragm compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, side-to-side difference, and the number of studies with a false-positive result (CMAP amplitude <0.30 mV) were compared for each technique. The largest amplitude (0.65 +/- 0.23 mV, range 0.30-1.2 mV) with good right-left agreement (mean difference 0.15 mV) and no false positives was obtained using technique 1, where the G1 electrode was positioned 5 cm above the xiphoid process and G2 16 cm from G1 along the costal margin. This was also the easiest technique to perform. It does not require rib counting, which may be difficult and inaccurate, especially in overweight patients. At least one false positive occurred with each of the remaining five techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Université Laval-Hopital Enfant-Jésus, 1401 18e Rue, Québec City, Québec G1J 1Z4, Canada. annie.dionne.cha@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dionne
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: Bradley V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nicolle
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult