Predictive Value of Diaphragm and Lung Ultrasonography for Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Background: This study analyzed weaning characteristics and assessed the association of clinical and ultrasonographic indices-maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), peak flow expiratory (PFE), diaphragm-thickening fraction (DTF), diaphragm thickness (DT), diaphragm excursion (DE), diaphragm-RSBI (D-RSBI), and lung ultrasound (LUS) patterns-with weaning failure.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included critically ill COVID-19 patients aged 18 and older who had been on invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h and undergoing weaning. Exclusion criteria included absence of ultrasound assessments, neuromuscular diseases, and chronic cardio-respiratory dysfunction.