TITLE:
Administering Anesthesia for Patients with ALS Having a Diaphragmatic Pacemaker Placed: Special Considerations
AUTHORS:
Molly Kraus, Lopa Misra
KEYWORDS:
ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Diaphragmatic Pacemaker, DPS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Anesthesiology,
Vol.4 No.9,
September
16,
2014
ABSTRACT: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease is a relentlessly progressive, fatal disease. Progression of the disease results 3 - 5 years after diagnosis, often from respiratory failure. The diaphragm pacing system (DPS) is a device that stimulates the diaphragm to maximally contract so patients can breathe more effectively. It has been used in patients with neurologic injuries such as spinal cord injury and ALS. From an anesthetic perspective, both the surgery and the patient population present several unique challenges. This case series describes three patients with ALS who had the diaphragmatic pacemaker placed and the anesthetic management during those surgeries.