Increases survival in patients withdiaphragmatic pacemaker The survival of patients with diaphragmatic pacemakers has increased five years in the last decade, according to a study According to a study by the National Paraplegics Hospital of Toledo, under the Government of Castilla-La Mancha, the survival of patients with high cervical spinal cord injury, requiring respiratory support with diaphragmatic pacemaker has gone from average life expectancy of 13, 2 years in 1998 to 18.18 years in 2009. The study was conducted by the head of Internal Medicine Center, Dr. Javier Romero, and Ana Maria Sanchez Aranzueque doctors, Claudia Gambarrutta, María Ángeles Marín, María Elena Diez de la Lastra, María Victoria Merlo, ICU professionals and Pneumology, informed the Board press release. Pacemakers stimulate the phrenic nerve diaphragm and provide a physiologically appropriate breathing much more since it uses negative pressure to draw air into the lungs rather than forcing air under positive pressure, like a respirator. According to Dr. Javier Romero, based on the results of work presented at the last congress of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine and Coronary Units, phrenic pacing is a valid technique as external respiratory support and achieve prolonged survival in patients with renal severe respiratory upper cervical spinal cord injury. Among the advantages of this technology emphasizes thatpacemaker patients are less prone to respiratory infections. It also requires child care needs, you get more acceptability to the patient, facilitates speech and improves their opportunities for mobility and, ultimately, their social integration. Source: Forum Human Health
