• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.83 no.4
• /
• pp.295-302
• /
• 2020

Background: Weaning failure is common in mechanically ventilated patients, and if ultrasound can predict weaning outcome remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diaphragmatic function (thickness and excursion) measured by ultrasound as a predictor of the extubation outcome. Methods: We included 62 mechanically ventilated patients from the chest intensive care unit in this study. Sixty-two patients who successfully passed the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) were enrolled. The transthoracic ultrasound of the diaphragm was performed during an SBT to the assess diaphragmatic function (excursion and thickness), and they were classified into the successful extubation group and the failed extubation group. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the successful extubation group in the diaphragmatic excursion and thickness fraction (p<0.001), a statistically significant negative correlation between the diaphragmatic function and the duration of the mechanical ventilation, and a statistically significant negative correlation between the diaphragmatic excursion and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. The diaphragmatic excursion cut-off value predictive of weaning was 1.25 cm, with a specificity of 82.1% and a sensitivity of 97.1% respectively, and the diaphragmatic thickness cut-off value predictive of weaning was 21.5%, with a specificity of 60.7% and a sensitivity of 91.2%, respectively. Conclusion: The diaphragmatic ultrasonography was found to be a promising tool for predicting the extubation outcome for mechanically ventilated patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.87 no.1
• /
• pp.80-90
• /
• 2024

Background: There are many methods of evaluating diaphragmatic function, including trans-diaphragmatic pressure measurements, which are considered the key rule of diagnosis. We studied the clinical usefulness of chest ultrasonography in evaluating stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and those in exacerbation, focusing on diaphragmatic measurements and their correlation with spirometry and other clinical parameters. Methods: In a prospective case-control study, we enrolled 100 COPD patients divided into 40 stable COPD patients and 60 patients with exacerbation. The analysis included 20 age-matched controls. In addition to the clinical assessment of the study population, radiological evaluation included chest radiographs and chest computed tomography. Transthoracic ultrasonography (TUS) was performed for all included subjects. Results: Multiple A lines (more than 3) were more frequent in COPD exacerbation than in stable patients, as was the case for B-lines. TUS significantly showed high specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy in detecting pleural effusion, consolidation, pneumothorax, and lung mass. Diaphragmatic measurements were significantly lower among stable COPD subjects than healthy controls. Diaphragmatic thickness and excursion displayed a significant negative correlation with body mass index and the dyspnea scale, and a positive correlation with spirometry measures. Patients in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group D showed lower diaphragmatic measurements (thickness and excursion). Conclusion: The TUS of COPD patients both in stable and exacerbated conditions and the assessment of diaphragm excursion and thickness by TUS in COPD patients and their correlations to disease-related factors proved informative and paved the way for the better management of COPD patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2017

Background: Research efforts to improve the pulmonary function of people with limited chest function have focused on the diaphragmatic ability to control breathing pattern. Real-time ultrasonography is appropriate to demonstrate diaphragmatic mechanism during breathing. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diaphragmatic breathing training using real-time ultrasonographic imaging (RUSI) on the chest function of young females with limited chest mobility. Methods: Twenty-six subjects with limited chest mobility were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) depending on the use of RUSI during diaphragmatic breathing training, with 13 subjects in each group. For both groups, diaphragmatic breathing training was performed for 30-min, including three 10-min sets with a 1-min rest interval. An extra option for the EG was the use of the RUSI during the training. Outcome measures comprised the diaphragmatic excursion range during quiet and deep breathing, pulmonary function (forced vital capacity; FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1-sec; FEV1, tidal volume; TV, and maximal voluntary ventilation; MVV), and chest circumferences at upper, middle, and lower levels. Results: The between-group comparison revealed that the diaphragmatic excursion range during deep breathing, FVC, and middle and lower chest circumferences were greater at post-test and that the changes between the pretest and post-test values were greater in the EG than in the CG (p<.05). In addition, the subjects in the EG showed increased post-test values for all the variables compared with the pretest values, except for TV and MVV (p<.05). In contrast, the subjects in the CG showed significant improvements for the diaphragmatic excursion range during quiet and deep breathings, FVC, FEV1, and middle and lower chest circumferences after the intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that using RUSI during diaphragmatic breathing training might be more beneficial for people with limited chest mobility than when diaphragmatic breathing training is used alone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.154-157
• /
• 1980

A twenty three year old, Primigravida and 32 week pregnant woman who has been complained dyspnea, chest pain, nausea and vomiting was admitted to this chest surgical department on Feb. 19, 1979. Physical findings were those of acutely ill appearance, decreased thoracic excursion and absence of breath sounds in the left hemithorax. Roentgen examination of the chest revealed reticular cystic densities in the left, particularly in lower lung field with collapse of the left lung. Correction of the diaphragmatic hernia was carried out with reduction and repair of the hernia through transperitoneal approach. On exploration, the defect of the diaphragm was 12 x 12 cm in size and was located posterolateral area of left diaphragm. Hernia contents were stomach, spleen, omentum and splenic flexure of large bowel. The baby was normal full term spontaneous delivered at 36th POD. Diaphragmatic hernia complicated by pregnancy is a rarity and mortality is extremely high. Therefore, the literatures have reviewed and the case is reported.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.736-745
• /
• 1998

Background: Respiratory muscle interaction is further profoundly affected by a number of pathologic conditions. Hyperinflation may be particularly severe in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients, in whom the functional residual capacity(FRC) often exceeds predicted total lung capacity(TLC). Hyperinflation reduces the diaphragmatic effectiveness as a pressure generator and reduces diaphragmatic contribution to chest wall motion. Ultrasonography has recently been shown to be a sensitive and reproducible method of assessing diaphragmatic excursion. This study was performed to evaluate how differences of diaphragmatic excursion measured by ultrasonography associate with normal subjects and COPD patients. Methods: We measured diaphragmatic excursions with ultrasonography on 28 healthy subjects(l6 medical students, 12 age-matched control) and 17 COPD patients. Ultrasonographic measurements were performed during tidal breathing and maximal respiratory efforts approximating vital capacity breathing using Aloka KEC-620 with 3.5 MHz transducer. Measurements were taken in the supine posture. The ultrasonographic probe was positioned transversely in the midclavicular line below the right subcostal margin. After detecting the right hemidiaphragm in the B-mode the ultrasound beam was then positioned so that it was approximately parallel to the movement of middle or posterior third of right diaphragm. Recordings in the M-mode at this position were made throughout the test. Measurements of diaphragmatic excursion on M-mode tracing were calculated by the average gap in 3 times-respiration cycle. Pulmonary function test(SensorMedics 2800), maximal inspiratory(PImax) and expiratory mouth pressure(PEmax, Vitalopower KH-101, Chest) were measured in the seated posture. Results: During the tidal breathing, diaphragmatic excursions were recorded $1.5{\pm}0.5cm$, $1.7{\pm}0.5cm$ and $1.5{\pm}0.6cm$ in medical students, age-matched control group and COPD patients, respectively. Diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts were significantly decreased in COPD patients ($3.7{\pm}1.3cm$) when compared with medical students, age-matched control group($6.7{\pm}1.3cm$, $5.8{\pm}1.2cm$, p< 0.05}. During maximal respiratory efforts in control subjects, diaphragm excursions were correlated with $FEV_1$, FEVl/FVC, PEF, PIF, and height. In COPD patients, diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts were correlated with PEmax(maximal expiratory pressure), age, and %FVC. In multiple regression analysis, the combination of PEmax and age was an independent marker of diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts with COPD patients. Conclusion: COPD subjects had smaller diaphragmatic excursions during maximal respiratory efforts than control subjects. During maximal respiratory efforts in COPD patients, diaphragm excursions were well correlated with PEmax. These results suggest that diaphragm excursions during maximal respiratory efforts with COPD patients may be valuable at predicting the pulmonary function.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2005

Theoretically one might suggest the abdominoplasty can cause respiratory decompensation resulting from musculofascial plication, which reduces the respiratory reserve by decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion. This prospective study was perfomed to evaluate the effect of abdominoplasty and the change of intraoperative Paw on the pulmonary function of 20 consecutive otherwise healthy subjects. The pulmonary function test was performed preoperatively, and repeated 2 months after the operation. Additionally, we monitored intraoperative Paw. Comparison of the pulmonary function test showed a significant decrease(p<0.001) in the mean forced vital capacity(FVC) and the mean forced expiratory volume in one second($FEV_1$) throughout the study period. Postoperatively, the mean FVC decreased by 11.65% and the mean $FEV_1$ decreased by 16.15%. The mean Paw increased by $6.6cmH_2O$($3-12cmH_2O$) by musculofascial plication. And we found that the decrease in FVC and $FEV_1$ was significantly correlated with intraoperative changing of Paw in abdominoplasty(p<0.001). FVC and $FEV_1$ could be decreased by abdominoplasty due to decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion, but there was no respiratory symptom clinically in all patients 2 months after the operation. In conclusion, We found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 after 2 months of abdominoplasty was significantly correlated with intraoperative Paw change during operation. The intraoperative Paw was increased to $12cmH_2O$ without any respiratory symptom in this study. We suggested that the increase in intraoperative Paw less than about $10cmH_2O$ can not affect on respiratory function clinically.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2019

Purpose : To investigate the relationship between breathing pattern disorder and joint position error (JPE) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods : Thirty nine patients with CLBP participated. End-tidal $CO_2$ and respiration rate (RR) were measured using a capnography. Breathing-hold time (BHT) and Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ) were investigated. Thoracic excursion was measured with a cloth tape measurement technique. Joint position error were measured using a small laser point mounted on a lightweight headband. they were asked to relocate the head, after the neck movement on the horizontal plane. Pearson 's test was used for correlation analysis between respiratory variables and JPE in patients with CLBP. Independent t-test was used to verify the difference between thoracic and diaphragm breathing pattern in patients with CLBP. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results : There was a significant correlation between JPE (LR) and JPE (RR, EX) (r=.639, r=.813) (p<.001) and a low negative correlation with end-tidal $CO_2$ (r=-.357) (p<.05). There was a significant correlation between RR and JPE (EX) (r=.750) (p<.001). There was a low correlation between JPE (EX) and NQ (r=.333) (p<.05). There was a somewhat high negative correlation between NQ and thoracic excursion (r=-.528) (p<.001). There was a somewhat high negative correlation between thoracic excursion and JPE (LR, RR, EX) (r=-.470, r=-.484, r=-.602) (p<.001). There were no significant differences in the RR, BHT, NQ, and thoracic excursion between the thoracic and diaphragmatic breathing (p>.05). There was a significant difference in the JPE (EX), end - tidal $CO_2$, and VAS values between the thoracic and diaphragm breathing (p<.05). Conclusion : There was a correlation between JPE (EX) and NQ in patients with CLBP, and correlation between thoracic excursion and JPE (LR, RR, EX) and NQ. There was a significant difference in the JPE (EX), end-tidal $CO_2$ level, and VAS value in the comparison of thoracic breathing and diaphragm breathing. The results showed that breathing patterns and JPE were related to each other.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.535-540
• /
• 2023

Background Abdominoplasty with abdominal plication increases intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and has been previously associated with limited diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory dysfunctions. Many factors found in abdominoplasties and among postbariatric patients predispose them to a higher occurrence. This study aims to evaluate the impact of abdominal plication among postbariatric patients, assess whether the plication increases their IAP, and analyze how these IAP correlate to their postoperative outcome. Methods This prospective study was performed on all patients who underwent circumferential Fleur-De-Lis abdominoplasty. For this intended study, the IAP was measured by an intravesical minimally invasive approach in three stages: after the initiation of general anesthesia, after a 10-cm abdominal wall plication and skin closure, and 24 hours after the procedure. Results We included 46 patients, of which 41 were female and 5 were male. Before the bariatric procedure, these patients had an average maximum weight of 121.4 kg and an average maximum body mass index of 45.78 kg/m²; 7 were grade I obese patients, 10 were grade II, and 29 were grade III. Only three patients were operated on with a gastric sleeve and 43 with gastric bypass. We presented six patients with transitory intra-abdominal hypertension in the first 24 hours, all of them from the grade I obesity group, the highest presented was 14.3 mm Hg. We presented 15% (7/46) of complication rates, which were only four seroma and five dehiscence; two patients presented both seroma and wound dehiscence. Conclusion Performing a 10-cm abdominal wall plication or greater represents a higher risk for intra-abdominal hypertension, slower general recovery, and possibly higher complication rate in patients who presented a lower degree of obesity (grade I) at the moment of the bariatric surgery.