Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Feasibility Study Using Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation (AFES) to Assist Ventilator Weaning in Tetraplegia
Brief Summary: Compromised respiratory function as a result of tetraplegia leads to many tetraplegics requiring mechanical ventilation during the acute phase of injury. Mechanical ventilation is associated with additional costs to the local health care provider and reduced quality of life of the patient. Electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles has previously been used to improve the respiratory function of tetraplegic patients in the chronic stage of injury. In this study the investigators aim to evaluate whether electrical stimulation of the abdominal muscles can assist the process of weaning from mechanical ventilation in acute ventilator dependent spinal cord injured patients.