Atrotech Atrostim PNS Anwenderhandbuch Seite 60

Atrostim PNS
Neurophysiological studies
- Phrenic nerve conduction time is recorded at intervals of 4 weeks,
see "Presurgical procedure".
- Diaphragm EMG is recorded during sequential and unipolar
stimulation (slow and rapid EMG waves). The measuring surface
electrodes are placed in the eighth intercostal space, see "Presurgical
procedure". The evoked diaphragm muscle compound action
potentials are recorded at the onset, in the middle and at the end of
the stimulation sequence.
Blood gas studies
- Blood gases are checked during fatigue tests and during ventilatory
tests sitting and in the supine position.
Studies of patients' quality of life
No approved tests or structured interviews are available to measure changes in
quality of life when PNS is used after a period of mechanical ventilation. We suggest
all investigators to initiate unstructured interviews of their patients by an interested
psychologist. Interviews should be performed before discussing PNS with the
patient, at the end of such discussions before implantation, during the conditioning
period, and after completion of the conditioning period. Simple depression scores
might be applied at the same time.
April 2002
Training procedure and follow-up
7