NMES as an Adjunct to Conventional Rehabilitation for Phrenic Nerve Recovery After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: This study investigated the effects of transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS) on phrenic nerve regeneration following cardiac surgery. Purpose: aiming to reduce respiratory dysfunction and improve recovery outcomes. Methods: Fifty patients aged 25–45 years who underwent cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to two groups 25 participants for each group. The TEDS group received conventional physiotherapy combined with transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS), while the conventional group received Conventional physiotherapy alone. Interventions were administered three times per week for four weeks. Nerve conduction studies assessed phrenic nerve regeneration through latency, amplitude, and area measurements pre and post treatment. Results: The TEDS group demonstrated statistically significant increase in latency mean increase 54.94% and improvement amplitude mean increase: 75.45% compared to the conventional group 6.01% and 11.83%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the area parameter between the two groups. Conclusion: Adding TEDS to conventional rehabilitation significantly enhances phrenic nerve regeneration, as evidenced by improved and increase amplitude. This noninvasive adjunct may optimize postoperative recovery in cardiac surgery patients.