Update Course Rewind 2025: Nerve Monitoring - Diaphragm Pacing for Respiratory Failure
With Dr. Dr. Ben Ham · hosted by Dr. Jill Knepprath
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
More about central hypoventilation syndrome
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What the experts said
Diaphragm pacing is an option for children with hypoventilation due to central hypoventilation syndrome, spinal cord injury, ALS, or metabolic disorders
Electrodes stimulate the phrenic nerve or the diaphragm directly, causing the diaphragm to contract and breathe more normally
Diaphragm pacing can help children avoid a tracheostomy
Diaphragm pacing can help children who already have a tracheostomy wean off the ventilator
Diaphragm pacing can be done via phrenic nerve stimulation or direct diaphragm stimulation
Phrenic nerve stimulators can be used in central hypoventilation syndrome
Phrenic nerve stimulators can be used in upper motor neuron respiratory muscle paralysis
Diaphragm pacing is approved in adults for spinal cord injury and ALS
Diaphragm pacing can strengthen the diaphragm muscle over time, even if it is not able to help the patient wean off the ventilator immediately
Diaphragm pacing can be used for Pompe disease