Combined Thoracic Ultrasound Using Speckle Tracking for the Prediction of Weaning Failure : a Prospective Multicenter Study

Deciding the optimal timing for extubation in patients who are mechanically ventilated can be challenging, and traditional weaning predictor tools are not accurate. Recent studies suggest that isolated sonographic assessment of the respiratory and cardiac function (ie diastolic function and filling pressure), in mechanically ventilated patients may assist in identifying patients at risk of weaning failure. Recently, the association of conventional echocardiography and lung ultrasound showed promising results for the prediction of post extubation distress. Speckle Tracking is an emerging tool in intensive care medicine that has never been investiguated for the prediction of weaning failure. It could early detects diastolic dysfunction and and elevated filling pressure. Of more, speckle tracking is known to be less operator dependant. The main objective of our study is to evaluate the diagnosis accuracy of speckle tracking echocardiography performed during a weaning trial to predict weaning failure. The secondary objectives are to assess the diagnosis accuracy of combined heart and lung ultrasound to predict weaning failure.