Diaphragmatic Dynamics and Thickness Parameters Assessed by Ultrasonography Predict Extubation Success in Critically Ill Patients.

Introduction: A frequent cause of weaning and extubation failure in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients is diaphragm muscle dysfunction. Ultrasound (US) evaluation of the diaphragm yields important data regarding its thickness (diaphragm thickening fraction [TFdi]) and its movement or excursion (diaphragmatic dynamics) that reveal the presence of diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, which included patients older than 18 years with invasive mechanical ventilation with an expected duration of more than 48 h, in a tertiary referral center in Colombia.