Yuan-ming Luo1, Rong-chang Chen, Nan-shan Zhong. 1. Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, First Hospital Affiliated, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerve and multipara esophageal electrode can be used to measure diaphragm compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Ten normal subjects and 10 patients in ICU were studied. A newly designed multipara esophageal catheter with 5 pairs of electrodes was used to record the diaphragm CMAP elicited by magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve. RESULTS: Good quality CMAPs were obtained from normal subjects and patients in ICU. In normal subjects, the phrenic nerve conduction time (PNCT) and amplitude of the diaphragm CMAP measured with electrical stimulation [(7.2 +/- 0.8) ms, (1.52 +/- 0.40) mV] were similar to those measured with magnetic stimulation [(7.1 +/- 0.8) ms, (1.56 +/- 0.38) mV, all P > 0.05, pooled left and right values]. The amplitude of the diaphragm CMAP in patients [(0.73 +/- 0.38) mV] was much smaller than that in normal subjects [(1.58 +/- 0.38) mV, P < 0.01, pooled left and right values]. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that magnetic stimulation combined with a multipara esophageal electrode could be a useful technique in assessing diaphragm function in ICU.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerve and multipara esophageal electrode can be used to measure diaphragm compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Ten normal subjects and 10 patients in ICU were studied. A newly designed multipara esophageal catheter with 5 pairs of electrodes was used to record the diaphragm CMAP elicited by magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerve. RESULTS: Good quality CMAPs were obtained from normal subjects and patients in ICU. In normal subjects, the phrenic nerve conduction time (PNCT) and amplitude of the diaphragm CMAP measured with electrical stimulation [(7.2 +/- 0.8) ms, (1.52 +/- 0.40) mV] were similar to those measured with magnetic stimulation [(7.1 +/- 0.8) ms, (1.56 +/- 0.38) mV, all P > 0.05, pooled left and right values]. The amplitude of the diaphragm CMAP in patients [(0.73 +/- 0.38) mV] was much smaller than that in normal subjects [(1.58 +/- 0.38) mV, P < 0.01, pooled left and right values]. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that magnetic stimulation combined with a multipara esophageal electrode could be a useful technique in assessing diaphragm function in ICU.