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. 2020 Nov-Dec;46(6):e20200064. doi: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20200064

Table 3. Relevant studies about the use of diaphragmatic ultrasound in critical care.

Authors n Setting Measurement Cutoff/Correlate
Predicting weaning outcome - TF
DiNino et al. 46 63 Medical ICU TF during SBT (PSV [5] or T tube) Cutoff for TF: > 30%
Jung et al. 43 33 Medical and Surgical ICU TF during SBT (PSV [5] or T tube)
Only patients with ICUAW
Cutoff for TF: > 20%
Dres et al. 40 76 Medical ICU TF during SBT on PSV Cutoff for TF: > 29%
Blumhof et al. 61 56 Medical ICU TF during SBT on PSV (5,10, and 15) Cutoff for TF: > 20%
Farghaly et al. 62 54 Respiratory ICU TF during SBT on PSV (8) Cutoff for TF: > 34%
Dres et al. 63 76 Medical ICU TF and PtrStim a few minutes before SBT
SBT on PSV (7), ZEEP
Cutoff for TF: > 25.8%
PtrStim > 7.2 cm
Predicting weaning outcome - DE
Jiang et al. 53 55 Medical ICU DE during SBT on PSV or T tube Cutoff for DE: 1.1 cm
Kim et al. 13 82 Medical ICU DE during SBT on PSV or T tube Cutoff for DE: 1.0 cm
Spadaro et al. 54 51 Medical ICU DE during SBT (not clear) Cutoff for DE: 1.4 cm
Dres et al. 40 76 Medical ICU DE during SBT on PSV Cutoff for DE: 0.95 cm
Farghaly et al. 62 54 Respiratory ICU DE during SBT on PSV Cutoff for DE: 1.05 cm
Assessing atrophy during MV
Grosu et al. 52 7 Medical ICU Tdi-exp measured daily since intubation Tdi-exp ⇓ 6%/day of MV
Goligher et al. 12 107 Medical ICU Tdi-exp and TF measured daily since intubation until 72 h of MV
-Tdi-exp ⇓ = Tdi-exp reduction > 10%
- Tdi-exp ⇑ = Tdi-exp increase > 10%
Tdi-exp in 44%; Tdi-exp ⇑ in 12%
Low TF correlated with ⇓ in Tdi-exp
High TF correlated with ⇑ in Tdi-exp.
TF ⇓ with ⇑ driving pressure and CMV
Schepens et al. 15 54 Medical ICU Tdi-exp measured during first 24 h of MV, and daily after Tdi-exp ⇓ ≈32% at the nadir
MV duration associated with atrophy
Zambon et al. 18 40 Medical ICU Tdi-exp measured daily since intubation during SB or CPAP
High PSV (5-12)
Low PSV (> 12): CMV
Tdi-exp ⇓ ≈7.5%/day on CMV
Tdi-exp ⇓ ≈5,3%/day on high PSV
Tdi-exp ⇓ ≈1.5%/day at low PSV
Tdi-exp ⇑ ≈2.3%/day in SB/CPAP
Goligher et al. 64 211 Medical ICU Tdi-exp and TF measured daily since intubation until 72h of MV
Inspiratory effort → TF
Tdi-exp ⇓ = Tdi-exp reduction > 10%
Tdi-exp ⇑ = Tdi-exp increase > 10%
Tdi-exp ⇓ in 41%; Tdi-exp in 24%
Tdi-exp ⇓ associated with ⇑ MV, ICU admission and ⇑ risk of complications
Tdi-exp ⇑ predicted ⇑ MV
⇓ Tdi-exp correlated with low inspiratory effort
⇑ Tdi-exp was related to excessive effort
TF (15-30%) → shortest duration of MV
Assessing DD
Lerolle et al. 14 28 Adult cardiac ICU DE, Pdi, and Gilbert index
Severe DD = best DE < 25 cm
MV > 7 days
Best DE < 25 correlated with Gilbert index < 0
Kim et al. 13 82 Medical ICU During SBT on PSV or T tube
MV > 48 h
DD in 24 (29%)
DE < 1.0 cm predicted weaning outcome
Valette et al. 48 10 Medical ICU DE during unassisted breathing
DD = paradoxical or absent excursion, or DE < 1.0 cm
DD in 10 patients
High mortality rate (60%) of patients with DD and ARF
Mariani et al. 49 34 Medical ICU DE during SBT on T tube
DD = DE <1.0 cm
MV > 7 days and SBT eligible
DD in 13 (38%)
Bilateral DD in 8
Unilateral (left/right side) DD = 3/2
Lu et al. 50 41 Medical ICU TF during SBT on PSV
only patients with prolonged MV
DD = TF < 20%
DD prevalence in 14 (34.1%).
DE < 1.0 cm predicted weaning outcome
Dubé et al. 45 112 Medical ICU PtrStim, TF and DE measured
during first < 24 h of MV or during ACV or at switch to PSV
DD = PtrStim <11 cmH2O
TF and DE correlated with PtrStim at switch to PSV, but not at initiation of MV
TF < 29% identified DD
TF < 29% was associated with ⇑ ICU-LOS, ⇑ MV duration, and ⇑ mortality

TF: thickening fraction; PSV: pressure-support ventilation (numbers in parentheses/brackets are cmH2O); SBT: spontaneous breathing trial; ICUAW: ICU-acquired weakness; PtrStim: tracheal pressure in response to phrenic nerve stimulation; ZEEP: zero end-expiratory pressure; DE: diaphragmatic excursion; Tdi-exp: diaphragm thickness at end-expiration; MV: mechanical ventilation; CMV: controlled mechanical ventilation; SB: spontaneous breathing; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; DD: diaphragmatic dysfunction; Pdi: transdiaphragmatic pressure; ARF: acute respiratory failure; ACV: assist-control ventilation; and LOS: length of stay.