Purpose of Technology

Diaphragmatic/phrenic nerve (D/P) stimulation involves electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves or muscle of the diaphragm, which then causes the diaphragm to contract, thereby creating negative pressure within the chest and pulling air into the lungs, as in normal breathing. The goal of D/P pacing is to achieve adequate respiration without the use of a mechanical ventilator.

Questions addressed in this report include:

• Can D/P pacing be used to support ventilatory function for patients diagnosed with chronic ventilatory insufficiency?
• How does D/P pacing compare with other approaches to permanent ventilatory support?
• Is D/P pacing safe?
• Have definitive patient selection criteria for D/P pacing been established?

These questions provide a framework for review and synthesis of the best available evidence, which is presented in this report, along with the Hayes Ratings for the technology. This report also provides background information about the condition being treated, a description of the technology, and the context for development of the technology. Other key elements addressed in the report include the regulatory status; applicable Medicare and commercial payer coverage policies; relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes; cost and cost effectiveness; credentialing; hospital length of stay; need for large case management; and ongoing and future clinical trials of the technology.

Posted in Directory Reports
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 11th, 2011 at 8:00 am.