Functional Electrical Stimulation of Abdominal Muscles - FESAM

The objective of this research project is to determine if functional electrical stimulation (FESAM) applied to patients on artificial ventilation (either mechanical ventilation or phrenic nerve stimulation) can alter the values of ventilation parameters to those which are less stressful to the lungs and closer to normal breathing. We expect that the active expiration phase induced by FESAM will lower the end expiratory volume level of the lungs, which will theoretically result in an equivalent level of ventilation being achieved at lower inspiratory pressures. The lowered end expiratory thoracic volume should also facilitate the subsequent inspiration. FESAM applied during inspiration could also potentially modulate the tidal volume distribution (between the chest and abdomen) with the purpose of improve respiratory gas exchange and possibly prevent some of the known complications of artificial ventilation.