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Bryson had a phrenic nerve test done yesterday. They saw responses, esp. on the right side. He might be a candidate for a pacer. Can someone tell me about this?
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Phrenic Nerve Test
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#1
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- Spinal Injury Level / Relationship:family to child C6C7
Posted 30 April 2008 - 07:10 PM
#2
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Posted 02 May 2008 - 02:19 PM
Hello, I am a physiotherapist in Sydney , Australia who works within an SCI rehab centre.
The phrenic nerve is the main nerve that supplies the diaphragm which allows you to take a deep breath in and breathe then relax to let you breathe out fully. This nerve is usually supplied by the nerves which exit at C4,5,6.
The phrenic nerve test is usually a test to see how well someone will do with a pacer implanted. I have seen it done with the correct patient type with favourable results. This is a site of a patient telling the story of implantation: http://www.gallilaw.com/phrenic.htm
This procedure is not for everyone and the specialists concerned need to make this decision on a case by case basis, but it does give hope to patients who are injured higher than C4 but whom still have a phrenic nerve response that can be manipulated by the pacemaker.
If your little one was seeing signs of phrenic responses upon testing, it is a good sign that the nerve is still active enough and can be possibly enhanced with the pacemaker.
Please keep informed, thoughts are with your family always through this difficult time.
Z
The phrenic nerve is the main nerve that supplies the diaphragm which allows you to take a deep breath in and breathe then relax to let you breathe out fully. This nerve is usually supplied by the nerves which exit at C4,5,6.
The phrenic nerve test is usually a test to see how well someone will do with a pacer implanted. I have seen it done with the correct patient type with favourable results. This is a site of a patient telling the story of implantation: http://www.gallilaw.com/phrenic.htm
This procedure is not for everyone and the specialists concerned need to make this decision on a case by case basis, but it does give hope to patients who are injured higher than C4 but whom still have a phrenic nerve response that can be manipulated by the pacemaker.
If your little one was seeing signs of phrenic responses upon testing, it is a good sign that the nerve is still active enough and can be possibly enhanced with the pacemaker.
Please keep informed, thoughts are with your family always through this difficult time.
Z
#3
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Posted 20 May 2008 - 08:59 PM
Go to the Avery Biomed website. www.averybiomedical.com They have a really complete site. Snce you've had the test, you may be pretty well linked in to an info source already. I am looking for a doctor to test and (hopefully) perform the procedure on my son, who is 21.
They call it electrophrenic respiration--EPR--and people are getting off vents from 12 to 24 hrs a day. The site has some wonderful success stories. Sounds like most insurance co's approve it as medically necessary, which means they pay for it, including Medicare and Blue Cross. It's cheaper than supoorting someone on a vent. The one-sided thing you discovered in testing is not necessarily a problem, from what i read. They are not seeing problems with long time users, which is great. We have a friend who had it done 10 yrs ago and its working great. He goes back on the vent at night only. He changes the batteries every 2 weeks whether they need it or not. He says Avery has really good tech support.
How long have you been on a vent/injured? Please keep us posted--and best wishes.
They call it electrophrenic respiration--EPR--and people are getting off vents from 12 to 24 hrs a day. The site has some wonderful success stories. Sounds like most insurance co's approve it as medically necessary, which means they pay for it, including Medicare and Blue Cross. It's cheaper than supoorting someone on a vent. The one-sided thing you discovered in testing is not necessarily a problem, from what i read. They are not seeing problems with long time users, which is great. We have a friend who had it done 10 yrs ago and its working great. He goes back on the vent at night only. He changes the batteries every 2 weeks whether they need it or not. He says Avery has really good tech support.
How long have you been on a vent/injured? Please keep us posted--and best wishes.
#4
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Posted 22 May 2008 - 04:12 AM
Bryson is an extended family member of mine-I'm not his mom (sorry for the confusion). He was injured in December-car accident, C1 contusion with damage at C6/7 too. I just post of his/his grandma's behalf. She is his caregiver. Right now, they are hoping he will get discharged in the next couple of weeks-before his 2nd birthday;)
Then maybe he'll get to go to Shriners at the end of summer and get the pacer??thanks for the info. will forward on to Bryson's grandmother. Good luck with your son:)
Then maybe he'll get to go to Shriners at the end of summer and get the pacer??thanks for the info. will forward on to Bryson's grandmother. Good luck with your son:)
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