Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Thickness and Dysfunction by Ultrasonography in Mechanically Ventilated Children for Assessment of Extubation Success

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate diaphragm thickness (DT) and diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) in mechanically ventilated children, and study the association of these measurements with extubation success. Methods: Consecutive children aged one month to 18 years, who required mechanical ventilation (MV) for more than 24 hours at our institution, were enrolled between April, 2019 to October, 2020. Ultrasonographic measurements of DT were documented, and DTF was calculated from baseline (within 24 hours of MV) until 14 days of MV, and up to three days post-extubation. Results: Of the 54 childrenenrolled, 40 underwent planned extubation trial, of which 9 (22.5%) had extubation failure. Pre-extubation and post-extubation DTF between children in extubation-success and extubation-failure groups were comparable (P=0.074). There was no significant difference in the diaphragm atrophy rate between the two groups (P=0.819). Binary logistic regression showed significantly decreased probability of successful extubation with total ventilation duration (P=0.012) and mean DTF% before extubation (P=0.033). Conclusion: Despite evidence of diaphragmatic atrophy in critically ill children receiving mechanical ventilation, there was no significant difference in DTF between extubation success and failure groups.

Destete guiado por ecografía / Ultrasound-Guided Extubation

Introducción: La observación del diafragma con el ultrasonido ha sido posible desde hace más de cuatro décadas; recientemente se le ha dado importancia a la valoración ultrasonográfica del diafragma en el proceso de destete del paciente ventilado. Objetivo: Describir la utilización de la ecografía diafragmática en la evaluación del proceso de destete en dos pacientes. Presentación de caso: Se presentan dos casos, el primer caso paciente femenino de 79 años con diagnóstico de infarto cerebral, coma y bronconeumonía; que precisó ventilación mecánica invasiva y previa prueba de ventilación espontánea. Se le realizó ultrasonido de diafragma donde se comprobó alta probabilidad de falla en la extubación, por lo que se modificó el esquema de destete para corregir las causas. El segundo paciente masculino de 68 años con diagnóstico de neumonitis aspirativa por queroseno que necesitó soporte ventilatorio invasivo; cuando presentó mejoría del cuadro inicial y parámetros de oxigenación, se le evaluó la función diafragmática mediante ultrasonografía se comprobó alta probabilidad de éxito en la extubación, se logró sin complicaciones. Conclusiones: Se utilizó la ultrasonografía diafragmática, emerge como una herramienta de fácil acceso y bajo costo, en la evaluación del proceso de destete en los pacientes ventilados, permitió la exploración de la función del diafragma en directo y en pie de cama. La valoración de la excursión diafragmática y la fracción de engrosamiento diafragmático proporcionó una escala predictiva valiosa, para prever que pacientes tendrán una extubación exitosa o no(AU)

Introduction: The observation of the diaphragm with ultrasound has been possible for more than four decades; but only recently has importance been given to the ultra-sonographic assessment of the diaphragm in the weaning process of the ventilated patient. Objective: To describe the use of diaphragmatic ultrasound in the evaluation of the weaning process in two patients. Case presentation: Two cases are presented, the first case is a 79-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction, coma and bronchopneumonia; that she required invasive mechanical ventilation and after a spontaneous ventilation test, an ultrasound of the diaphragm was performed, where a high probability of failure in extubation was verified, for which the weaning scheme was modified to correct the causes. The second 68-year-old male patient diagnosed with kerosene aspiration pneumonitis that required invasive ventilator support; that when he presented improvement of the initial symptoms and oxygenation parameters, his diaphragmatic function was evaluated by ultrasonography, verifying a high probability of success in extubation, achieved without complications. Conclusions: Diaphragmatic ultrasonography emerges as a tool of easy access and low cost, in the evaluation of the weaning process in ventilated patients, allowing the exploration of the function of the diaphragm in direct and at the foot of the bed. The evaluation of the diaphragmatic excursion and the fraction of diaphragmatic thickening provide us with a valuable predictive scale, to anticipate which patients will have a successful extubation or not(AU)