The Use of Diaphragmatic Ultrasonography: Does It Change Mechanical Ventilation Weaning Decision and Predict Outcome in COPD Patient?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth killer among all diseases worldwide. It can be prevented and treated, so it is an important public health challenge. Inspiratory muscle weakness has a great clinical association with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The prolonged mechanical ventilation and weaning failure may be related to diaphragmatic muscle dysfunction. The traditional weaning parameters (e.g., spontaneous tidal volume ), Maximum inspiratory pressure , and rapid shallow breathing index are considered useful parameters for weaning. Although, they have unsatisfactory prediction rates.

Exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an event in the natural course of the disease characterized by a change in the patient's baseline dyspnea, cough and/or sputum beyond day-to-day variability sufficient to warrant a change in management .

In most patients, mechanical ventilation can be discontinued as soon as the underlying reason for acute respiratory failure has been resolved. However, Patients spend receiving mechanical ventilation is devoted to weaning and increase up to, 59% in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients .

There are innumerable factors responsible for the failure of weaning from mechanical ventilation. Factors that should be considered in all patients include misadjusted ventilator settings, infections, airway patency and respiratory muscle performance. Malnutrition, which is common in ventilator dependent patients, has detrimental effects on the respiratory system. Heart failure or coronary ischemia can be induced by the reduction of ventilatory support which causes weaning failure. A number of electrolyte imbalances and psychological problems can be an impediment to successful weaning.

Diaphragmatic ultrasound is non-invasive, radiation-free, widely available, provides immediate and accurate results, and can be repeated at the bedside . Diaphragm sonography values provide useful information for assessing and monitoring mechanically ventilated patients .