ELECTROPHRENIC RESPIRATION. II. ITS USE IN MAN 1

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Abstract
Artificial respiration by phrenic nerve stimulation can be performed in man. A smooth, gradual, diaphragmatic contraction occurs when an increasing voltage is applied to the phrenic nerve. The diaphragm thus performs a motion closely resembling that which it performs during natural inspiration. Respiratory minute vols. in excess of the patient''s spontaneous minute vols. can readily be obtained with the submaximal stimulation of one phrenic nerve. The depth of respiration is proportional to the peak voltage applied to the phrenic nerve in man as in the exptl. animal. Adequate oxygena-tion of the blood can be maintained by electrophrenic respiration in the absence of spontaneous respiration. The human subject, like the exptl. animal, completely relinquishes spontaneous control of respiration when electrophrenic respiration is induced.

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