American journal of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Identification of unexpected respiratory abnormalities in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through electromyographic analysis using intramuscular electrodes implanted for therapeutic diaphragmatic pacing.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients have significant respiratory abnormalities with incomplete understanding of respiratory control. This study analyzes electromyography (EMG) of the diaphragm (dEMG) using implanted diaphragm pacing (DP) electrodes. ⋯ Multiple abnormalities of respiratory control can be seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients using dEMG through therapeutic DP electrodes. DP is used to overcome instability of respiratory control when there are intact diaphragm motor units leading to improved survival.