Case report: Minimally invasive method to activate the expiratory muscles to restore cough

This case report explores a new, less invasive method of helping people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) cough more effectively. Coughing is essential for clearing secretions and preventing respiratory infections, a major cause of death in this population. The method involves using wire leads, inserted through the skin, to stimulate the muscles needed for coughing. This is compared to a more invasive method using disc electrodes that requires surgery. The study showed that the wire lead method was successful in restoring an effective cough in a patient with SCI, leading to improved secretion management and a better quality of life.

• 1
  Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) via wire leads can restore an effective cough in a subject with SCI.
• 2
  The minimally invasive technique using wire leads resulted in comparable airway pressures to the more invasive disc electrode method.
• 3
  The patient experienced improved secretion management and reduced fear of aspiration with the wire lead SCS method.