Exploration spécialisée des muscles respiratoires

The exploration of specialized respiratory muscles includes analysis of the diaphragmatic muscle function and electro-physiological study of the phrenic nerve. The measurement of transdiaphragmatic pressure using eosophagal and gastric balloon catheters evaluates specific muscle weakness. This measurement in response to the phrenic nerve stimulation appears then as a more reliable and comprehensive method than the voluntary diaphragmatic contraction. Coupled with phrenic nerve and transcranial stimulation the pathophysiological mechanism can be assessed by the location of the level of injury: central, peripheral nervous, junctional or muscular to guide more precisely therapy.