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Patient 1
THE PT IS A YOUNG MALE WHO SUSTAINED SEVERE CHEST INJURIES AND HAD BEEN ON POSITIVE-PRESSURE MECHANICAL VENTILATION FOR OVER 200 DAYS. A ONE-TIME IRB APPROVAL FOR AN OFF-LABEL USE WAS OBTAINED TO ATTEMPT TO STRENGTHEN THE PT'S DIAPHRAGM AND WEAN HIM OFF MECHANICAL VENTILATION. THE PT WAS USING THE DEVICE ON A NORMAL COURSE SINCE SURGICAL IMPLANTATION ON (B)(6) 2012. IN A ROUTINE CHECK FOR CARDIAC RHYTHM CAPTURE DURING THE SURGERY (PER THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE) PREMATURE VENTRICULAR CONTRACTIONS (PVCS) WERE DETECTED WITH THE DEVICE AT MAXIMUM STIMULATION SETTINGS. THE STIMULATION SETTINGS WERE ADJUSTED DOWN ACCORDINGLY AND THE PVCS WERE NO LONGER SEEN. OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 20 DAYS THE DEVICE STIMULATION PARAMETERS WERE ADJUSTED TO RESOLVE PAIN ISSUES, DEAL WITH DIAPHRAGM FATIGUE, AND IMPROVE HYPOVENTILATION AT NIGHT. THIS DID INVOLVE INCREASING THE STIMULATION PARAMETERS ALTHOUGH NO PVCS OR VTACH WERE NOTED. ON (B)(6) 2012, APPROX 40 MINUTES AFTER THE DEVICE WAS TURNED ON FOR THE NIGHT, THE PT EXPERIENCED VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA AND VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION. CPR WAS PERFORMED, CARDIOVERSION WAS DONE 3 TIMES, AND 1 MG OF EPINEPHRINE WAS ADMINISTERED TO RESTORE NORMAL RHYTHM. THE EPISODE LASTED 4 MINUTES. THE DEVICE WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FACILITY CONSIDERED THE EVENT "SERIOUS" AND "POSSIBLY RELATED". IT CANNOT BE DEFINITIVELY DETERMINED WHETHER THE DEVICE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT OR NOT. THE PT COMPLETELY RECOVERED AND HAS BEEN USING THE DEVICE SINCE THE INCIDENT AT LOWER STIMULATION SETTING WITHOUT RECURRENCE.