Clarifying the Role of Diaphragm Ultrasound Imaging in the Discontinuation of Mechanical Ventilation

Editorial| January 2024 Clarifying the Role of Diaphragm Ultrasound Imaging in the Discontinuation of Mechanical Ventilation This article has an Audio Podcast Franco Laghi, M.D. Franco Laghi, M.D. 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Author and Article Information This editorial accompanies the article on p. 126. Accepted for publication October 2, 2023. Address correspondence to Dr. Laghi: Anesthesiology January 2024, Vol. 140, 4–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004810 Connected Content Article: Diaphragm Dysfunction Predicts Weaning Outcome after Bilateral Lung Transplant Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Franco Laghi; Clarifying the Role of Diaphragm Ultrasound Imaging in the Discontinuation of Mechanical Ventilation. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:4–7 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004810 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsAnesthesiology Search Advanced Search Topics: mechanical ventilation, respiratory diaphragm, ultrasonography, use techniques of reflection and clarification in communication, weaning Failure to wean from mechanical ventilation after lung transplantation is a harbinger of excess morbidity and mortality.1 Early identification of patients at risk of failure to wean, and the mechanisms thereof, remain unresolved challenges. In the current issue of Anesthesiology, Boscolo et al.2 try to address this important gap in our knowledge. Specifically, they describe the relationship between diaphragm dysfunction, assessed by means of diaphragm ultrasonography, and weaning outcome in this specific population. The investigators report that among 44 ready-to-wean patients who had just undergone bilateral lung transplantation, the prevalence of diaphragm dysfunction was 32% in the overall sample and 78% in the subgroup of patients who failed the first posttransplant spontaneous breathing trial. The investigators operationally defined diaphragm dysfunction as a change in diaphragm thickness during inspiration—or diaphragm thickening fraction (fig. 1)—of less than 29% by ultrasound imaging. They reason that diaphragm dysfunction... You do not currently have access to this content.