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Diaphragm weakness in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.
Crit Care. 2013 Jun 20;17(3):R120
Authors: Supinski GS, Callahan LA
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Studies indicate that mechanically ventilated patients develop significant diaphragm muscle weakness, but the etiology of weakness and its clinical impact remain incompletely understood. We assessed diaphragm strength in mechanically ventilated medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients, correlated the development of diaphragm weakness with multiple clinical parameters, and examined the relationship between the level of diaphragm weakness and patient outcomes.
METHODS: Transdiaphragmatic twitch pressure (PdiTw) in response to bilateral magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves was measured. Diaphragm weakness was correlated with the presence of infection, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, and glucose levels. The relationship of diaphragm strength to patient outcomes, including mortality and the duration of mechanical ventilation for successfully weaned patients, was also assessed.
RESULTS: We found that infection is a major risk factor for diaphragm weakness in mechanically ventilated MICU patients. Outcomes for patients with severe diaphragm weakness (PdiTw < 10 cm H2O) were poor, with a markedly increased mortality (49%) compared to patients with PdiTw [greater than or equal to] 10 cm H2O (7% mortality, P=0.022). In addition, survivors with PdiTw < 10 cm H2O required a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation (12.3 +/- 1.7 days) than those with PdiTw [greater than or equal to] 10 cm H2O (5.5 +/- 2.0 days, P=0.016).
CONCLUSIONS: Infection is a major cause of severe diaphragm weakness in mechanically ventilated patients. Moreover, diaphragm weakness is an important determinant of poor outcomes in this patient population.
PMID: 23786764 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]