Diaphragm Pacing Could Have Efficacy for Sleep Condition in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Background: To investigate the efficacy of electrical diaphragm pacing (DP) for sleep condition in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Method: We investigated 5 Japanese ALS patients without positive-pressure mechanical ventilation (3 men and 2 women, aged 59.6 ± 9.6 years). All of them were implanted NeuRx RA/4 Diaphragm Pacing System R (NeuRx) in the diaphragm laparoscopically. We assessed physical status and polysomnographic recordings before implantation and after 6 months of conditioning with DP turned on. Results: 4 patients completed the evaluation. Sleep condition showed the tendency to improve far from getting worse despite of deterioration of physical status and respiratory function. Conclusion: DP with NeuRx might assist the sleep condition in ALS patients at least in 6 months of follow up.