Efficacy of combined inspiratory intercostal and expiratory muscle pacing to maintain artificial ventilation

摘要

Many patients with ventilator-dependent quadriplegia have coincident phrenic nerve injury and therefore cannot be offered phrenic nerve pacing. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of combined inspiratory intercostal and expiratory muscle pacing to provide complete ventilatory support. Studies were performed in 15 anesthetized dogs. An electrode was positioned on the epidu- ral surface of the upper thoracic spinal cord to activate the inspiratory intercostal muscles; a separate electrode was positioned on the epidural surface of the lower thoracic spinal cord to activate the ex- piratory muscles.