Ultrasound Assessment of Diaphragm Function in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background Prolonged mechanical ventilation is associated with weaning failure in severe TBI patients. Ultrasound is a noninvasive modality for evaluating diaphragm function. On ultrasonography (USG), diaphragm thickness is observed to decrease over time in mechanically ventilated patients. However, little literature exists on the severity of diaphragmatic dysfunction in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. This study aimed to observe the changes occurring in diaphragmatic function in mechanically ventilated TBI patients.

Keywords

• diaphragmatic dysfunction
• diaphragmatic excursion
• diaphragmatic thickness fraction
• mechanical ventilation
• ultrasound