Diaphragmatic Ultrasonography, a Novel Approach in Critical Care: A Proposal for a New Weaning Index.

The evaluation of the diaphragm in critically ill patients is simple and noninvasive and has shown good repeatability. The aim of the study was to generate a predictive index for successful weaning (ULDIMex) from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) based on an ultrasonographic diaphragmatic assessment before performing a spontaneous breathing test. We recruited patients who required IMV and who were candidates for weaning from ventilation.

Pulmonary Ultrasound: A New Era in Critical Care Medicine.

Pulmonary ultrasonography is a complementary study that is easy to perform at the patient bedside with no need to transfer the patient to special areas. The technique provides information with high sensitivity and specificity for different pathologies. Pulmonary ultrasonography is a very important diagnostic tool in the assessment of lung, pleural, and chest wall diseases.

Standardization of Sonographic Diaphragm Thickness Evaluations in Healthy Volunteers.

Background: B-mode ultrasound can be used to measure diaphragm thickness at the zone of apposition. We believe it is necessary to develop normal values for diaphragm thickness at rest in a large group of healthy subjects and compare them with international results.

Methods: Ultrasound measurements of diaphragm thickness at expiratory rest were taken in 109 healthy individuals, with results stratified by sex, body mass index, and thorax circumference.