Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42044135›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Effects of transcutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation and transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation: A protocol for a randomized, single-blind, crossover trial.

Caroline Gomes Mól, Ricardo Kenji Nawa, Angélica Cristiane da Cruz Britto, Raquel Afonso Caserta Eid, Elaine Cristina de Campos, Leandro Teixeira Saraiva, Renato Fraga Righetti, Wellington Pereira Yamaguti

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06339632 (Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Phrenic Nerve Stimulation and Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06339632 narecruitingnot on this map

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Phrenic Nerve Stimulation and Transcutaneous Electrical Diaphragmatic Stimulation: a Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorHospital Sirio-LibanesRan2024 to 2026Enrolled12ConditionsDiaphragmArmsTranscutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation (TEPNS), Transcutaneous electrical diaphragm stimulation (TEDS)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Caroline Gomes MólDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9493-0150
Ricardo Kenji NawaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0852-7013
Angélica Cristiane da Cruz BrittoFaculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Raquel Afonso Caserta EidDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Elaine Cristina de CamposRehabilitation Service, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Leandro Teixeira SaraivaRehabilitation Service, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9902-5870
Renato Fraga RighettiRehabilitation Service, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Wellington Pereira YamagutiRehabilitation Service, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4943-2085

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk of developing respiratory muscle weakness, which may lead to prolonged mechanical ventilation and worsening clinical outcomes. Noninvasive neuromuscular electrical stimulation techniques, such as transcutaneous electrical phrenic nerve stimulation (TEPNS) and transcutaneous diaphragmatic electrical stimulation (TDES), offer potential therapeutic options for patients unable to generate voluntary active contractions. However, there is limited research directly comparing the effects of these modalities on diaphragmatic function. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of TEPNS and TDES on diaphragmatic function in healthy adults. Secondary objectives include assessing the safety, feasibility, and perceived discomfort associated with the application of each technique.

methodsThis study will be a bicentric, randomized, single-blind, crossover trial that will be conducted at two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Healthy adults aged 18-60, with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2, no history of respiratory diseases, and no contraindications for the proposed electrical stimulation modalities will be included. Diaphragm thickness, thickening fraction, and mobility will be assessed using ultrasound during tidal breathing. Participants will be randomly assigned to begin the intervention with one of two experimental conditions: (1) TEPNS protocol or (2) TDES protocol. In addition, data on the safety and feasibility of each electrical stimulation modalities will also be collected.

trial registrationThis protocol is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the number NCT06339632.

Indexed as

DiaphragmPhrenic NerveTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationAdolescentAdultBrazilCross-Over StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSingle-Blind MethodYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID42044135
PMCPMC13119898

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.