# A preclinical rat model for bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation during mechanical ventilation

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a minimally invasive rat model to study phrenic nerve stimulation during mechanical ventilation, aiming to prevent organ injury.

## Contribution

The study introduces a reproducible, minimally invasive rat model for bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation during mechanical ventilation.

## Key findings

- Bilateral phrenic nerves were exposed within 20 ± 2 min using omohyoid muscle-based surgery.
- Threshold stimulation correlated with body weight and increased muscle action potentials by ~30%.
- Histology confirmed intact nerves and stable physiological parameters during ventilation.

## Abstract

Phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) may preserve diaphragm activation and mitigate multiorgan injury during mechanical ventilation (MV); however, a minimal invasive rat model integrating PNS with MV is lacking. We established an omohyoid muscle‐based PNS rat model combined with MV. Bilateral nerves were exposed within 20 ± 2 min by transection at the intermediate tendon of omohyoid muscle, minimizing trauma and bleeding. Threshold stimulation (0.6 ± 0.2 mA) correlated with body weight. Ventilator‐synchronized stimulation increased compound muscle action potentials by ~30%, whereas histology confirmed intact nerve. Physiological parameters remained stable throughout ventilation. This model provides a safe and scalable platform for mechanistic and preclinical studies on PNS‐mediated protection against MV‐induced organ injury.

In this study, we established a reproducible rat model for bilateral PNS under MV, aiming for a platform for investigating mechanisms and interventions for ventilator associated injury. This model integrating minimal invasive omohyoid‐based surgery, threshold stimulation, and ventilator‐synchronized delivery, demonstrating a stable diaphragm stimulation without detectable phrenic nerve injury.