[Simultaneous, bilateral and permanent ventilation with a diaphragm pacing in childhood: the implantation technique and indications].

The acute effects of external stimulation were well demonstrated by the turn of the century, but the chronic application had to wait until the advent of the modern pacemaker technology. Since 1983 we have implanted bilateral diaphragm pacing in ten infants and adolescents with quadriplegia and central hypoventilation syndrome. The preferred site of implantation was the thoracic phrenic nerve. The electrophysiological status of the phrenic nerve function has before been determined in all patients. We have got bilateral and continuous ventilation, in all patients, but, in quadriplegics is necessary a conditioning period. Long term stimulation of the phrenic nerves to pace the diaphragm is an effective method of ventilatory support in selected cases.