Prolonged controlled mechanical ventilation in humans triggers myofibrillar contractile dysfunction and myofilament protein loss in the diaphragm.

Background: Prolonged controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) in humans and experimental animals results in diaphragm fibre atrophy and injury. In animals, prolonged CMV also triggers significant declines in diaphragm myofibril contractility. In humans, the impact of prolonged CMV on myofibril contractility remains unknown.