Electroventilation with monopolar and bipolar intratracheal electrodes.

Unlabelled: Electroventilation is the technique of producing inspiration with stimuli applied to inspiratory muscles by using strategically placed electrodes on or within the body. We conducted studies using the dog to determine the efficacy of monopolar and bipolar intratracheal electrodes for electroventilation. Bipolar electrodes were able to produce an inspired volume greater than a spontaneous tidal volume in all seven dogs, but monopolar electrodes were able to in only three of seven dogs.