title: Electrophrenic pacing and decannulation for high-level spinal cord injury: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1997, guidelines were developed for the management of high-level ventilator-dependent patients with spinal cord injury who had little or no ventilator-free breathing ability (VFBA). This article describes the three categories of patients, the decannulation criteria,  and the successful decannulation of four patients with no VFBA and electrophrenic/diaphragm pacing, using these criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of VFBA in patients with high-level spinal cord injury does not mandate tracheostomy or electrophrenic/diaphragm  pacing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, University Hospital, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolikal
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goncalves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020878:Device Removal; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000601:surgery; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical