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Expiratory Muscle Function in Critically Ill Ventilated Patients

Completed
Conditions
Expiratory Muscle
Mechanical Ventilation
Critical Illness
Muscle Atrophy or Weakness
Diaphragm
Registration Number
NCT04333186
Lead Sponsor
Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
Brief Summary

Inspiratory muscle weakness develops rapidly in ventilated critically ill patients and is associated with adverse outcome, including prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and mortality. Surprisingly, the effects of critical illness on expiratory muscle function have not been studied.

The main expiratory muscles are the abdominal wall muscles, including the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) and transversus abdominis muscles (TRA). These muscles are activated when respiratory drive or load increases, which can be during e.g. exercise, diaphragm fatigue, increased airway resistance, or positive airway pressure ventilation. The abdominal wall muscles are also critical for protective reflexes, such as coughing. Reduced abdominal muscles strength may lead to decreased cough function and thus inadequate airway clearance. This will lead to secretion pooling in the lower airways, atelectasis, and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Studies have shown that decreased cough function is a risk for weaning failure and (re)hospitalization for respiratory complications. Further, high mortality was found in patients with low peak expiratory flow.

Considering the importance of a proper expiratory muscle function in critically ill patients, it is surprising that the prevalence, causes, and functional impact of changes in expiratory abdominal muscles thickness during mechanical ventilation (MV) for critically ill patients are still unknown.

Ultrasound is increasingly used in the ICU for the visualization of respiratory muscles. In a recent pilot study the investigators confirmed the feasibility and reliability of using of ultrasound to evaluate both diaphragm and expiratory abdominal muscle thickness in ventilated critically ill patients (manuscript in preparation). Accordingly, the primary aim of the present study is to evaluate the evolution of abdominal expiratory muscle thickness during MV in adult critically ill patients, using ultrasound data.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
113
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age > 18 years
  • Invasive mechanical ventilation < 48 hours
  • Expected duration of mechanical ventilation > 72 hours
Exclusion Criteria
  • Past medical history of neuromuscular disorders
  • Mechanical ventilation > 48 hours within the current hospital admission
  • Pregnant women
  • Open abdominal wounds at proposed location of the ultrasound probe, due to recent abdominal surgery

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abdominal expiratory muscle thicknessFrom the date of inclusion until the date of first extubation or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Thickness of the abdominal expiratory muscles measured in millimeters

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Extubation failureFrom the date of extubation to the date of reintubation, or the date of death from any cause, or the date of ICU discharge, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Reintubated after extubation

Positive end expiratory pressureFrom the date of inclusion until the date of first extubation or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Postive end expiratory pressure measure in centimetre of water

Diaphragm muscle thicknessFrom the date of inclusion until the date of first extubation or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Thickness of the diaphragm muscle measured in millimeters

Inflammatory markersWithin 24 hours after inclusion

Inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10) at inclusion (measured from blood sample using ELISA technique).

Applied driving pressureFrom the date of inclusion until the date of first extubation or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Appplied driving pressuye defined as peak pressure minus total postive end expiratory pressure, and measured in centimetre of water

Tidal volumeFrom the date of inclusion until the date of first extubation or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Tidal volume measured in liters

Readmission to ICUFrom the date of ICU diascharge to the date of death from any cause, or the date of hospital discharge, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 weeks

Readmitted to ICU after the ICU discharge

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VU University Medical Center

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Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

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