[A diaphragmatic pacemaker in the treatment of ventilatory failure]

Diaphragmatic Pacing was used to treat ventilatory failure in a young boy with bilateral diaphragmatic palsy secondary to cervical cord injury, on chronic mechanical ventilation for 6 months. The indications for diaphragmatic pacing in ventilatory failure were discussed, as well as the assessment of phrenic nerve integrity and the pacing schedules utilized to slowly improve the diaphragm endurance and achieve a full-time weaning from mechanical ventilation.