As published in the journal Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, a physician provides a followup on an earlier case report for a patient with unilateral pacing of the diaphragm who recovered intrinsic diaphragmatic function.

"We had published a case report of a 60 year female with unilateral diaphragmatic injury that got successful treatment with unilateral diaphragmatic pacemaker."

"The patient underwent placement of a right diaphragmatic pacemaker, which was successful. The patient showed significant improvement in her oxygenation status, dyspnea, and her overall pulmonary status."

"In this report, our patient had the diaphragmatic pacemaker placed secondary to phrenic nerve injury via radiation, and the resulting recovery of the phrenic nerve was expected. The diaphragmatic pacer prevented the atrophy of the diaphragm via constant electrical stimulation. As a result, this allowed time for the regeneration of the phrenic nerve"

"Therefore now with a viable right phrenic nerve and a conditioned, non-atrophied hemidiaphragm, the patient no longer requires mechanical ventilation via the pacemaker."

Surani SR, Ayala EE, McMillan M, Sablonte E, Acosta P. "Long Term Recovery of Diaphragmatic Function in a Patient with Unilateral Diaphragmatic Pacemaker" Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews; Vol. 5, No. 1, pp 59-61, February 2009.