Table 3.

Surgical and postoperative complications and incidence rates associated with implanting chronic diaphragm EMGs and suggested steps to reduce each complication

ComplicationIncidence rateMitigating solutions
Pneumothorax/diaphragm tearing∼2%

  • - Use of minimal force to advance needle

  • - Use of diaphragm contraction to advance needle

  • - Ensure smooth needle/wire surface(s)

  • - Holding base of needle to thread needle and wire through diaphragm in a fluid movement

Idiopathic loss of unilateral diaphragm EMG signal∼5%

  • - Use of flux during implant fabrication

  • - Leaving slack outside the abdominal cavity to accommodate animal growth

Infection requiring additional treatment∼3%

  • - Proper sterile surgical technique

  • - Proper handling of sterile supplies

  • - Frequent (3 times/week) bedding/cage changes following implantation due to abdominal incision

  • - Use of Baytril and meloxicam postsurgery

Bleeding at site of headcap insertion (<24 h after implantation)∼50%

  • - Resolves spontaneously without intervention

Grooming-induced opening of abdominal incision∼5%

  • - Subcuticular suture technique

  • - Use of rodent Elizabethan collar

  • - Incidence decreases after buprenorphine treatment

Idiopathic dehiscence of incision caudal to headcap∼2%

  • - Interrupted absorbable suture caudal to implant

  • - Surgical glue to assist in wound closure

  • Incidence rates are based on observations from n = 105 surgeries, excluding the initial n = 10 surgeries, which were used for surgical training and optimization and refinement of the surgical approach.