OPTIMUM STIMULUS FREQUENCY FOR CONTRACTING THE INSPIRATORY MUSCLES WITH CHEST-SURFACE ELECTRODES TO PRODUCE ARTIFICIAL-RESPIRATION

Electroventilation is the term used to described the production of inspiration by applying a train of short-duration pulses to chest-surface electrodes. Studies were conducted in the dog to determine the optimum frequency to produce a smooth air flow in the trachea. It was found that a stimulus frequency of 25/sec or slightly higher meets this criterion. To illustrate that electroventilation can be carried out for a prolonged period using these parameters, electroventilation was applied continuously for 5 hours in a dog without a noticeable change in blood pressure. © 1990 Pergamon Press plc.