Ondine's Curse: hemodynamic response to diaphragm pacing (electrophrenic respiration).

The hemodynamic response to diaphragm pacing was studied in eight patients with Ondine's Curse. It was shown that such pacing could lower the pulmonary artery pressure while correction of hypoxemia alone could not. It was demonstrated that on pacing, calculated pulmonary arteriolar resistance decreased and there was normalization of arterial blood gases. The mechanism for these changes was improved alveolar ventilation.