HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): George V. Letsou Jung H. Kim Michael L. Dewar John C. Baldwin John A. Elefteriades Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Letsou, G. V. Articles by Elefteriades, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Letsou, G. V. Articles by Elefteriades, J. A.

Ann Thorac Surg 1992;54:925-931
© 1992 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Comparison of 180-degree and 360-degree skeletal muscle nerve cuff electrodes

^a Departments of Surgery and Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
^b Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Accepted for publication March 11, 1992.

^_* Address reprint requests to Dr Letsou, Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 121 FMB, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06510.

Use of skeletal muscle for cardiac augmentation is a promising technique for treatment of end-stage cardiac failure. An electrode woven through the latissimus dorsi that recruits nearby nerve fibers is commonly used to pace skeletal muscles both in clinical practice and in the laboratory. A proximally placed nerve cuff electrode offers potential advantages in improved recruitment of muscle fibers and low threshold for stimulation. We tested the effectiveness of a nerve cuff electrode passed directly about the proximal thoracodorsal nerve. Our report looks at the efficacy of nerve cuff electrode stimulation and compares electrical and histologic characteristics of a 180-degree wrap of the thoracodorsal nerve to a 360-degree wrap in dogs over 3 months. Threshold voltage at the commonly used pulse width of 200 microseconds was typically in the range of 400 to 600 mV for each electrode after 3 months. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference (p < 0.05) in threshold voltage or current between the 180-degree and 360-degree nerve cuff electrode either at acute evaluation or after 3 months. Even contraction of latissimus dorsi was achieved with all implants. Adenosine triphosphatase Staining revealed 100% conversion of type II to type I fibers in all stimulated muscles. Histologic examination of the thoracodorsal nerve and latissimus dorsi muscle revealed no abnormalities grossly or by light microscopy. Thus, a carefully applied nerve cuff electrode is an atraumatic, effective method for skeletal muscle stimulation. The 180-degree and 360-degree nerve cuff configurations are equally effective.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Elefteriades and J. A. Quin Diaphragm pacing Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2002; 73(2): 691 - 692. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Paniello and J. D. Dahm Long-term model of induced canine phonation Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, April 1, 1998; 118(4): 512 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]