BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI: Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC)-Delhi has tied up with the renowned American general surgeon Dr Raymond P. Onders to introduce a program of the path breaking procedure of diaphragmatic pacing in India.

The procedure can change the lives of hundreds of spinal injury or neuromuscular illnesses patients who have been living on heavy ventilating machines for a majority of their lives, claim doctors.

The machine is surgically attached to the patient's diaphragm muscle and nerves via a series of electrodes and remains outside the patient's body, where he or she can manually control it.

Dr Onders stated “The diaphragm pacing system acts as a rehabilitative tool, and allows patients to reduce their dependence on ventilator or even completely eliminate the patient’s need for artificial breathing support.”

Dr H S Chhabra, Medical Director of ISIC, told DTMT, “The procedure involves artificially stimulating the diaphragm to enable the patient breath normally. The procedure will help us start this program for the first time in India and improve the quality of life of many of our patients.”

He claimed, “Children can also now get off heavy and noisy ventilators, which will change the lives of their family."

Dr Chhabra disclosed that after subsidy the new system costs an average of Rs 17 lakh each year for the patients.