The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 75, 273-281, Copyright © 1978 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Diaphragm pacing. Application to a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
WW Glenn, JB Gee and EN Schachter
In a 66-year-old patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
complicated by arterial hypoxemia and repeated episodes of respiratory and
right ventricular failure, a satisfactory level of oxygenation could not be
maintained despite controlled oxygen therapy. To enable oxygen to be
administered without depression ventilation, artificial respiration by
means of phrenic nerve stimulation (diaphragm pacing) has been employed.
Evidence of clinical improvement since pacing was begun 32 months ago
include fewer episodes of respiratory failure and better control of
congestive heart failure despite a gradual worsening of pulmonary function.