Spinal cord injury: the cost of mechanical ventilation versus phrenic nerve stimulation

Abstract

Patients with respiratory insufficiency caused by tetraplegia at or above the level of cervical segment two can be treated with phrenic nerve stimulation instead of mechanical ventilation. An analysis of the annual invoices for single use airway equipment of 20 patients using phrenic nerve stimulation and 20 patients who were mechanically ventilated was conducted. The initial implantation of the phrenic nerve stimulation device costs considerably more than the mechanical ventilation device. However, this analysis found that the cost of running a phrenic nerve stimulator device is lower because of the reduced amount of airway nursing equipment needed. This analysis demonstrates that the cost of implanting a phrenic nerve stimulator device would be repaid within 4 years.