Author/Editor     Podnar, Simon; Harlander, Matevž
Title     Phrenic nerve conduction studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Type     članek
Vol. and No.     Letnik 47Letnik 4
Publication year     2013
Volume     str. 504-509
ISSN     0148-639X - Muscle & nerve
Language     eng
Abstract     Introduction: The most common etiology of hypercapnic respiratory failure is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the differential diagnosis also includes neuromuscular disorders. We studied the specificity ofreduced amplitude phrenic nerve compound motor action potential (CMAP) to diagnose neuromuscular disorders. Methods: A group of patients with advanced COPD were recruited prospectively and compared with controls. Phrenic nerve CMAPs were measured bilaterally using supraclavicular surface stimulation and bipolar recording (G1: 5 cm above the xiphoid; G2: 16 cm from G1). Results: A group of 20 patients (15 men) and a group of 29 controls (15 men) were included. Phrenic nerve CMAPs of patients with COPD had significantly longer latency and higher amplitude. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that patientswith hypercapnic respiratory failure and reduced phrenic nerve CMAP amplitude most probably have a neuromuscular disorder affecting the diaphragm and not COPD or another lung disorder.
Keywords     clinical neurophysiology
diaphragm
hypercapnic respiratory failure
neuromuscular disorders
phrenic nerve