phrenic nerve stimulation as treatment for central sleep apnea and hypoventilation
- related: Sleep and Sleep Disordered Breathing
- tags: #permanent
Phrenic nerve stimulator is an implanted device (like pacemaker) that can be used for both hypoventilation and central sleep apnea.
There is a sensing lead and stimulating lead. Sensing lead is in azygos vein and senses patient respiratory effort. Stimulating lead is in pericardiophrenic vein. It delivers pulse to the phrenic nerve.
The two modes are asynchronous (fixed timed pulse regardless of underlying breathing) and synchronous (only firing if patient has prolonged pause in breathing)
