Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ()

Phrenic nerve conduction studies: normative data and technical aspects

  • Analucia Abreu Maranhão,
  • Sonia Regina da Silva Carvalho,
  • Marcelo Ribeiro Caetano,
  • Alexandre Hofke Alamy,
  • Eduardo Mesquita Peixoto,
  • Pedro Del Esporte Peçanha Filgueiras

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282x20170153
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 75, no. 12
pp. 869 – 874

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to define normative data of phrenic nerve conduction parameters of a healthy population. Methods: Phrenic nerve conduction studies were performed in 27 healthy volunteers. Results: The normative limits for expiratory phrenic nerve compound muscle action potential were: amplitude (0.47 mv - 0.83 mv), latency (5.74 ms - 7.10 ms), area (6.20 ms/mv - 7.20 ms/mv) and duration (18.30 ms - 20.96 ms). Inspiratory normative limits were: amplitude (0.67 mv - 1.11 mv), latency (5.90 ms - 6.34 ms), area (5.62 ms/mv - 6.72 ms/mv) and duration (13.77 ms - 15.37 ms). Conclusion: The best point of phrenic nerve stimulus in the neck varies among individuals between the medial and lateral border of the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and stimulation of both sites, then choosing the best phrenic nerve response, seems to be the appropriate procedure.

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