Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Acta Chirurgica Iugoslavica, 3(61), p. 99-103, 2014
DOI: 10.2298/aci1403099r
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The phrenic nerve is a nerve that originates in the neck (C3-C5) and passes down between the lung and heart to reach the diaphragm. It controls the diaphragm which is the primary muscle involved in breathing. Injuries of the phrenic nerve can occur after trauma such as falls, blunt trauma, after penetrating injuries or in car accidents, iatrogenic nerve injury during surgery in the neck and chest. Phrenic nerve pacing (PNP), or ?diaphragm pacing?, is the application of rhythmic electrical impulses to the diaphragm, resulting in respiration for patients who would be otherwise dependent on a mechanical ventilator. Phrenic nerve stimulators are indicated for selected patients with partial or complete respiratory insufficiency? and ?can be only effective if the patient has an intact phrenic nerve and diaphragm, which means in patients with spinal cord injuries, central sleep apnea and in patients with lesion of central nervous system. In contrast, trauma below C2 usually does not allow pacing, because the cell bodies of the phrenic nerves are damaged. This kind of treatment can lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life of ventilator-dependent quadriplegic individuals. It can improve pulmonary function and reduce the incidence of pulmonary infections. In addition, it improves quality of speech and olfaction which leads to much better quality of life and higher rates of social participation. We would like to demonstrate a case of a nineteen years old patient that was admitted to the ER department in Clinical Center of Serbia as an emergency case with penetrating wound injury after a gunshot wound to the neck. Data from the literature, which have been also confirmed with our individual experience suggest that the phrenic nerve pacing begins in cases that there is no recovery of nerve not earlier than three and no later than six months after the injury when the results are the most appropriate. Most patients with diaphragmatic pacemakers continue to need tracheostomies and mechanical ventilators as a back-up to their pacemakers. It is important to note that diaphragmatic pace makers only improve inspiratory function and do not target expiratory functions such as coughing and clearing secretions. Finally, the extremely high cost of the device itself, with modest results of the implementation of the device, gives a basis to observe it with great criticism, especially in countries with lower economic status.