Diaphragm and weaning from mechanical ventilation: anticipation and outcome

Background Determining the optimal moment to extubate a critically ill patient remains a challenge. The parameters of diaphragm sonography offer precious data in the evaluation and follow-up of critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation. Aim To evaluate the diaphragm role in the weaning outcome through the following objectives: detect the association between ultrasonographic parameters of diaphragm [thickness, excursion, and velocity of contraction (slope)] and weaning outcome, success, or failure, in addition to evaluation of the weaning process by measuring the total duration of ventilation, weaning duration, ICU stay, and reventilation. Patients and methods A longitudinal, observational, prospective study. The primary endpoint was weaning outcome (failed or successful), while the secondary endpoints included length of ICU stay, weaning duration, ventilation duration, presence or absence of complications, and mortality. It was conducted on 240 (138 men and 102 women) invasively mechanically ventilated patients aged between 20 and 78 years were chosen from our Respiratory ICU of Chest Department, Mansoura University Hospital. Results There were statistically significant higher values of all sonographic measurements in the survived compared with the died group (P<0.001). There was statistically significantly higher sonographic diaphragmatic measurements in the successful group compared with the failed group (P<0.001). Conclusion The measurement of percent change of diaphragmatic thickness as well as excursion and slope could be applied in correlation more with weaning outcome with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.4%.