Functional Diaphragmatic assessment by US

Diaphragm dysfunction (DD) frequently develops in critically ill patients and is associated with adverse outcome, including prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and increased length of ICU stay. Risk factors for the development of diaphragm dysfunction include sepsis and mechanical ventilation. Both ventilator over-assist and ventilator under-assist are associated with development of respiratory muscle weakness. Therefore, monitoring diaphragm activity using non-invasive, reproducible methods may be of clinical importance. Ultrasound of the diaphragm allows quantification of excursion, thickness and thickening fraction, which can be used to estimate diaphragm function. Diaphragm ultrasound is used to evaluate the anatomy and function of the diaphragm. It is a safe, repeatable, accurate, non-invasive bedside technique that can be successfully applied indifferent settings, including general intensive care and the emergency department.