Diaphragm Pacing in Spinal Cord Injury Successful in Weaning Patients From Ventilators, Bridging to Independent Respiration
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center“This study provides several important observations,” said Dr. Raymond Onders, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. “Most notably, laparoscopic diaphragm mapping – an electronic reading of the diaphragm nerves – is safe and can be performed in multiple centers with success. In addition, early diaphragm mapping can quickly determine if a phrenic nerve injury is complete, allowing for early ventilator planning and prevention of weaning trials if we find the patient will not be able to be weaned from the ventilator. Finally, DP can successfully wean traumatic cervical SCI patients as evidenced by 72 percent of the implanted patients being completely weaned from ventilators and 36 percent with complete recovery and DP removal.