title: Multicenter analysis of diaphragm pacing in tetraplegics with cardiac pacemakers: positive implications for ventilator weaning in intensive care units.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diaphragm pacing (DP) can replace mechanical ventilation in tetraplegics and in trials has assisted respiration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. This report describes results of DP in patients with cardiac pacemakers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, single-center and multicenter, nonrandomized, controlled, interventional protocols under U.S. Food and Drug Administration and/or institutional review board approval were evaluated. Patients underwent laparoscopic diaphragm motor point mapping to identify optimal electrode site for implantation. With diaphragm conditioning, patients were weaned from their ventilator. Perioperative and long-term assessments between the cardiac pacemakers and DP were analyzed for any device-to-device interactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 300 subjects were implanted from 2000 to 2010. Twenty tetraplegics with cardiac pacemakers and DP were analyzed from 6 sites. Subjects ranged from 19 to 61 years old with DP implantation 6 months to 24 years postinjury. There were no immediate or long-term device to device interactions. All patients achieved diaphragm-paced tidal volumes exceeding their basal requirements and, after conditioning, all patients could go >4 hours without mechanical ventilators; 71% could go 24 hours continuously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DP can be safely implanted in tetraplegics having cardiac pacemakers. Applications for temporary use of DP to maintain diaphragm type 1 muscle fiber and improve posterior lobe ventilation may benefit complex critical care patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Raymond.onders@uhhospitals.org
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Onders
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khansarinia
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hungness
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soper
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dehoyos
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ducko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003964:Diaphragm; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult