Use of Ultrasound to Check Diaphragmatic Thickness to Assist in Weaning

Dysfunction of the respiratory muscles is now considered to be a serious complication of critical health issues. Diaphragm dysfunction has been associated to higher mortality and complications weaning with mechanical ventilation in patients getting invasive mechanical ventilation treating acute respiratory failure. Diaphragm dysfunction can occur in mechanically ventilated patients for a variety of factors, involving disuse atrophy with mechanical ventilation. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly essential for clinical and research priorities to measure and track diaphragm contractile activity, structural dimensions, as well as strength during mechanical ventilation. It is generally accepted that ultrasound may be used to visualize the diaphragm. The key indicators of diaphragm function have been developed over the past 15 years for mechanically ventilated patients to monitor changes in diaphragm size as well as function over time, to evaluate and diagnose diaphragmatic dysfunction, and to determine whether these indices can predict successfully exiting mechanical ventilation. These indices include diaphragm thickness, thickening fraction, as well as excursion. Keywords: Diaphragm, Diaphragm thickening fraction, Diaphragmatic excursion, Ultrasound, Weaning.