The Swedish experience in phrenic nerve stimulation.

Phrenic nerve stimulators (diaphragm pacers) were implanted in 20 patients with partial or total respiratory insufficiency of central nervous origin and chronic singultus. A 2-84 months follow-up (M = 41), 10 patients are entirely independent of a conventional respirator, two patients are partially dependent on respirator, three patients are dead, and five patients including two with hiccups had limited or no help from diaphragm pacing.