[Muscle ultrasound: reliability across experience levels in critical care physiotherapists].

Background: Muscle ultrasound is a valid tool to monitor muscle mass loss in critically ill patients. The level of experience is essential to the accuracy of the measurements.

Aim: To evaluate the interobserver reliability of experienced and novice raters measuring muscle thickness and echo intensity of the quadriceps and tibialis anterior.

Respiratory drive, inspiratory effort, and work of breathing: review of definitions and non-invasive monitoring tools for intensive care ventilators during pandemic times.

Technological advances in mechanical ventilation have been essential to increasing the survival rate in intensive care units. Usually, patients needing mechanical ventilation use controlled ventilation to override the patients respiratory muscles and favor lung protection. Weaning from mechanical ventilation implies a transition towards spontaneous breathing, mainly using assisted mechanical ventilation.

Evaluating a Muscle Ultrasound Education Program: Theoretical Knowledge, Hands-on Skills, Reliability, and Satisfaction of Critical Care Physiotherapists.

Objective: To evaluate learning results of critical care physiotherapists participating in a muscle ultrasound (MUS) educational program.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A custom-made 20-hour MUS course was performed over a 2-week time period, including knobs familiarization, patient positioning, anatomic landmarks, image acquisition, and limb muscle measurements.