Title: Long Term Recovery of Diaphragmatic Function in a Patient with Unilateral Diaphragmatic Pacemaker
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Author(s): Salim Surani, Eva Elizabeth Ayala, Myriah McMillan, Elizabeth Sablonte and Pilar Acosta
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Diaphragmatic pacing, respiratory failure, diaphragm paralysis
Abstract: Diaphragmatic pacing, also known as electrophrenic respiration or phrenic pacing has been used for quite some time in patients with respiratory failure due to diaphragmatic paralysis. We present a case of patient with respiratory insufficiency due to unilateral phrenic nerve injury as a result of radiation therapy for breast cancer. The patient had a diaphragmatic pacer inserted, with significant recovery on her symptoms. Three years after this procedure, the patient recovered her phrenic nerve function, and this was confirmed by nerve conduction study.
