Stimulation With Wire Leads to Restore Cough

Spinal Cord Injuries Clinical Trial

Official title:

Spinal Cord Stimulation With Wire Leads to Restore Cough

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01659541
• Other study ID #: IRB 15-00014
• Secondary ID: U01NS083696
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: April 2015
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: November 2022
• Source: MetroHealth Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this trial is to determine the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation, using wire leads, to produce an effective cough in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Description:

Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries often have paralysis of a major portion of their expiratory muscles - the muscles responsible for coughing - and therefore, lack a normal cough mechanism. Consequently, most of these patients suffer from a markedly reduced ability to clear airway secretions, a factor which contributes to the development of recurrent respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Expiratory muscles can be activated by electrical stimulation of the spinal roots to produce a functionally effective cough.

The purpose of this trial is to determine if electrical stimulation of the expiratory muscles by wire leads is capable of producing an effective cough on demand. According to the trial researchers, if successful, this technique will prevent the need for frequent patient suctioning - which often requires the constant presence of trained personnel. It will also allow spinal cord injured patients to clear their secretions more readily, thereby reducing the incidence of respiratory complications and associated illness and death.

In the trial, researchers will study 16 adults (18-75 years old) with cervical spinal injuries (C8 level or higher), at least 6 months following the date of injury. After an evaluation of medical history, a brief physical examination, and initial testing, participants will have wire leads placed - by a routine, minimally invasive surgical procedure - over the surface of their spinal cords on the lower back to stimulate the expiratory muscles and restore cough.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 12
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: July 31, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 75 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Spinal cord injury C8 level or higher

• 12 months post-injury (if the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) incomplete) or 6 months post-injury (if AIS complete)

• Expiratory muscle weakness

• Between 18 and 75 years of age

• Adequate oxygenation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Untreated lung, cardiovascular or brain disease

• Scoliosis, chest wall deformity, or marked obesity

• Unmanaged hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure)

• Low oxygenation

• Minor infection at the site of implantation requiring antibiotics within the past 3 weeks

• Serious infection requiring hospitalization within the past 6 weeks

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Central Nervous System Diseases
• Cough
• Nervous System Diseases
• Paralysis
• Spinal Cord Diseases
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Trauma, Nervous System
• Wounds and Injuries

Intervention

Device:
• Expiratory muscle stimulator
The expiratory muscle stimulator consists of two small electrodes (wire leads) implanted on the surface of the spinal cord on the lower back to stimulate the expiratory muscles and restore cough. These electrodes are connected to an implanted receiver in the abdomen or chest wall. The device is activated through an external antenna connected to an external control box.

Procedure:
• Implantation of device
The expiratory muscle stimulator consists of two wire leads(each with two metal contacts) inserted onto the surface of their spinal cord on the lower back using a needle. The procedure to implant these wire leads is commonly used today for other purposes. This is a minimally invasive surgical technique with minimal risks. The wire leads are connected to an implanted receiver in the abdomen or chest wall. The device is activated through an external antenna connected to an external control box to stimulate the expiratory muscles and restore cough.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	MetroHealth Medical Center	Cleveland	Ohio

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
MetroHealth Medical Center	National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (21)

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Nemunaitis GA, Kowalski KE. Comparison of disc and wire electrodes to restore cough via lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation. J Spinal Cord Med. 2022 May;45(3):354-363. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1936388. Epub 2021 Jul 7. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Kowalski KE. Complete Restoration of Respiratory Muscle Function in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury: Interventional Clinical Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Jul;99(7):e91-e92. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001338. No abstract available. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Kowalski KE. Complete Restoration of Respiratory Muscle Function in Three Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury: Pilot Interventional Clinical Trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Jan;98(1):43-50. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001018. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Nemunaitis GA and Kowalski KE. Case Report: Effects of Lower Thoracic Spinal Cord Stimulation on Bowel Management in a Person with Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Neurology and Neurobiology (2019) Volume 5 - Issue 1 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16966/2379-7150.156.

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Nemunaitis GA, Kowalski KE. Effects of Lower Thoracic Spinal Cord Stimulation on Bowel Management in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Jun;102(6):1155-1164. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.09.394. Epub 2020 Nov 5. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Nemunaitis GA, Kowalski KE. Restoration of cough via spinal cord stimulation improves pulmonary function in tetraplegics. J Spinal Cord Med. 2020 Sep;43(5):579-585. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2019.1699678. Epub 2019 Dec 6. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Polito RR, Kowalski KE. Case report: Minimally invasive method to activate the expiratory muscles to restore cough. J Spinal Cord Med. 2018 Sep;41(5):562-566. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2017.1357916. Epub 2017 Oct 11. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Geertman RT, Tabbaa K, Polito RR, Kowalski KE. Economic Consequences of an Implanted Neuroprosthesis in Subjects with Spinal Cord Injury for Restoration of an Effective Cough. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2017 Summer;23(3):271-278. doi: 10.1310/sci2303-271. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Geertman RT, Hromyak DR, Frost FS, Creasey GH, Nemunaitis GA. Lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation to restore cough in patients with spinal cord injury: results of a National Institutes of Health-Sponsored clinical trial. Part II: clinical outcomes. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 May;90(5):726-32. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.11.014. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Geertman RT, Hromyak DR. Lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation to restore cough in patients with spinal cord injury: results of a National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trial. Part I: methodology and effectiveness of expiratory muscle activation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 May;90(5):717-25. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.11.013. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Geertman RT, Hromyak DR. Spinal cord stimulation: a new method to produce an effective cough in patients with spinal cord injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006 Jun 15;173(12):1386-9. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200601-097CR. Epub 2006 Mar 16. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Hromyak DR, Geertman RT. Long-term follow-up of spinal cord stimulation to restore cough in subjects with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2014 Jul;37(4):380-8. doi: 10.1179/2045772313Y.0000000152. Epub 2013 Nov 26. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Romaniuk JR. Effects of diaphragm activation on airway pressure generation during lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2007 Oct 15;159(1):102-7. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2007.06.007. Epub 2007 Jun 22. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE. Effects of chronic electrical stimulation on paralyzed expiratory muscles. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008 Jun;104(6):1634-40. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01321.2007. Epub 2008 Apr 10. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Romaniuk JR, Kowalski KE, Supinski G. Mechanical contribution of expiratory muscles to pressure generation during spinal cord stimulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1999 Oct;87(4):1433-9. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1999.87.4.1433. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Romaniuk JR, Kowalski KE, Supinski G. Pattern of expiratory muscle activation during lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1999 Jun;86(6):1881-9. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.6.1881. — View Citation

DiMarco AF, Romaniuk JR, Supinski GS. Electrical activation of the expiratory muscles to restore cough. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 May;151(5):1466-71. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.151.5.7735601. — View Citation

Kowalski KE, DiMarco AF. Comparison of wire and disc leads to activate the expiratory muscles in dogs. J Spinal Cord Med. 2011 Nov;34(6):600-8. doi: 10.1179/2045772311Y.0000000039. — View Citation

Kowalski KE, Romaniuk JR, DiMarco AF. Changes in expiratory muscle function following spinal cord section. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Apr;102(4):1422-8. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00870.2006. Epub 2006 Dec 7. — View Citation

Romaniuk JR, Dick TE, Kowalski KE, Dimarco AF. Effects of pulse lung inflation on chest wall expiratory motor activity. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Jan;102(1):485-91. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00130.2006. Epub 2006 Sep 7. — View Citation

Wada JA, Osawa T, Mizoguchi T. Recurrent spontaneous seizure state induced by prefrontal kindling in senegalese baboons, Papio papio. Can J Neurol Sci. 1975 Nov;2(4):477-92. doi: 10.1017/s031716710002062x. — View Citation

* Note: There are 21 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Measurements of Peak Expiratory Airflow Rate to Evaluate Efficacy of Cough.	Peak Expiratory airflow rate is a person's maximum speed of expiration. Peak expiratory flow rate is the maximum flow rate generated during a forceful exhalation, starting from full inspiration. It was measured after release of airway occlusion after peak airway pressure was achieved.	52 weeks (1 year)
Primary	Measurements of Maximum Airway Pressure to Evaluate Efficacy of Cough	Maximum expiratory pressure is the highest pressure that can be developed during a forceful expiratory effort against an occluded airway.	52 weeks (1 year)
Secondary	Secretion Management Episodes	This assessment allowed to characterize the severity of secretion management episodes and subjective assessment of the need for secretion management before and after use of the Cough System.; Design: Prospective assessment via questionnaire responses; Question: How significant were your needs for assistance with managing your airway secretions on a typical day during the past week?; 0 None - Unaware of need; Mild - Did not interfere with usual daily activities; Moderate - Most stop activity during need; Marked - Most stop activity for brief period (10-30 min) after need; Severe - Most stop activity for prolonged period (> 30 min) after need, may be accompanied by dizziness, headache and/or pain in upper chest	52 weeks (1 year)
Secondary	Difficulty Raising Sputum	Survey to assess difficulty raising sputum; Objectives: To determine the difficulty raising sputum before and after use of the cough stimulation system (Cough System); Design: Prospective assessment via questionnaire responses; Question: How much difficulty have you had with managing your airway secretions?; On a scale of 0-4 (0 = None (No secretions), 1 = Mild (Rarely have difficulty), 2 = Moderate (Occasional difficulty) 3 = Marked (Frequent difficulty) and 4=Severe (Usually have great difficulty).	52 weeks (1 year)
Secondary	Number of Respiratory Tract Infections	Form covers frequency, type, severity, and antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections.; The incidence of acute respiratory tract infections, defined by a change in the character, color, or amount of respiratory secretions and requiring antibiotic administration was tracked before and after implantation of the cough system. The occurrence of respiratory tract infections was determined by subject history and corroborated by review of medical records, when available.	52 weeks (1 year)
Secondary	Life Quality Assessment -Stress Level	Survey will assess the subject's quality of life at home and in social situations, as well as assess specific need for managing secretions.; Objectives: Life Quality Assessment before and after use of the cough stimulation system (Cough System); Design: Prospective assessment via questionnaire responses; Question: To what extent did managing your airway secretions cause you stress? On a scale of 0-3 (0 = Not at all, 1 = a little, 2 = Quite a bit and 3 = Very much)	52 weeks (1 year)