Ultrasound in predicting improvement in dyspnoea after therapeutic thoracentesis in patients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion.

Background: In patients with recurrent pleural effusion, therapeutic thoracentesis is one way of relief. Correct prediction of which patients will experience relief following drainage may support the management of these patients. This study aimed to assess the association between ultrasound (US) characteristics and a relevant improvement in dyspnoea immediately following drainage. Methods: In a prospective, observational study, patients with recurrent unilateral pleural effusion underwent US evaluation of effusion characteristics and diaphragm movement measured by M-mode and the Area method before and right after drainage. The level of dyspnoea was assessed using the modified Borg scale (MBS). A minimal important improvement in dyspnoea was defined as delta MBS ≥ 1. Results: In the 104 patients included, 53% had a minimal important improvement in dyspnoea following thoracentesis. We found no association between US-characteristics, including diaphragm shape or movement (M-mode or the Area method), and a decrease in dyspnoea following drainage. Baseline MBS score ≥ 4 and a fully drained effusion were significant correlated with a minimal important improvement in dyspnoea (OR 3.86 (1.42-10.50), p = 0.01 and 2.86 (1.03-7.93), p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: In our study population, US-characteristics including assessment of diaphragm movement or shape was not associated with a minimal important improvement in dyspnoea immediately following thoracentesis.

The Median Effective Volume of 0.375% Ropivacaine for Ultrasound-guided Anterior Suprascapular Nerve Block in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The suprascapular nerve (SSN) is an important nerve that contributes to shoulder joint sensation and movement. The anterior suprascapular nerve block (aSSNB) has the potential for noninferior analgesic effect compared with the interscalene block while preserving respiratory function. This study investigated the median effective volume (MEV) of 0.375% ropivacaine in aSSNB for analgesic effect among patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was the MEV. The secondary objectives included the 24 hour sufentanil consumption, 24 hour patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) presses, and incidences of diaphragm impairment. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective registered (ChiCTR2300070129), single-armed, volume-finding study. SETTING: This study was conducted in a tertiary, single center. METHODS: There were 23 patients who completed the study. Using an up-and-down process, patients enrolled in the study received different volumes of 0.375% ropivacaine for an aSSNB adjusted based on the success or failure of the previous patient in the study's block by increasing or decreasing the volume by 3 mL. The first patient received 15 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine. The nerve blocks were evaluated by the sensory score of the C5 and C6 dermatomes. RESULTS: MEV50 (50% of the patients) was 6 mL (95% CI, 5.78 - 6.78 mL), and MEV95 (95% of the patients) was 13.88 mL (95% CI, 13.37 - 14.87 mL). There was no significant difference in the PCA presses, 24 hour sufentanil consumption, and incidences of diaphragm impairments between successful and unsuccessful blocks. LIMITATIONS: Our study focused on the analgesic effect rather than hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis with 0.375% ropivacaine for an aSSNB. The study also did not test varying ropivacaine concentrations while keeping the volume constant. Further investigation with varying concentrations and a larger sample size is indicated to address the optimal volume and concentration to balance analgesia and diaphragm function. CONCLUSIONS: To produce effective analgesic effect, the MEV50 is 6 mL, and the MEV95 is 13.88 mL in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery who receive an aSSNB using 0.375% ropivacaine for analgesia.

Combining respiratory-muscle resistance training with feedback respiratory electrical stimulation improves the diaphragm and pulmonary function of stroke survivors / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To document any effect of combining respiratory-muscle resistance training with feedback respiratory electrical stimulation in rehabilitating the diaphragm function and lung function of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty hemiplegic stroke survivors were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation, including respiratory-muscle resistance training. The observation group additionally received feedback respiratory electrical stimulation twice a day, six days a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, ultrasound was used to measure the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory thickness of the diaphragm. Diaphragm movement during quiet breathing and deep breathing was also observed, and the diaphragm thickening fraction was calculated. The incidence of diaphragm dysfunction on the affected and healthy sides of the two groups before and after the treatment was also analyzed and compared.Results:Diaphragm dysfunction on either side had decreased significantly more in the observation group than in the control group after the treatment. The observation group also showed significantly greater average improvement in the thickening functions and in diaphragm movement on both the affected and healthy sides during quiet breathing and deep breathing. All of the pulmonary function indicators improved significantly in both groups after the treatment, but those of the observation group were, on average, significantly better than the control group′s averages.Conclusions:Combining 3 weeks of respiratory muscle resistance training with electrical stimulation feedback can effectively increase the bilateral thickness of the diaphragm and diaphragm movement in deep breathing of hemiplegic stroke survivors. That reduces the incidence of diaphragm dysfunction.

Analysis of diaphragm movements to specify geometric uncertainties of respiratory gating near end-exhalation for irradiation fields involving the liver dome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The technique of gating near end-exhalation is commonly adopted to reduce respiration-associated geometric uncertainties for particle beam therapy. However, for irradiation fields involving the liver dome, how diaphragm movements generating liver-lung interface change, alongside geometric uncertainties, remain unspecified. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients receiving respiratory-gated computed tomography (RGCT) with four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scans during simulation were retrospectively reviewed. Differences (Δ) between RGCT and 4DCT images, including diaphragm displacements and liver-lung interface changes, were investigated to specify geometric uncertainties during early inhalation phases. Craniocaudal displacements (Δy, in sagittal/coronal planes) of diaphragm segments (dorsal/ventral/right lateral/medial), liver area changes (ΔA, in axial planes), and liver extent changes in specific directions of incidence (Δr, in axial planes) were analyzed. RESULTS: Altogether, 162 patients received simulating RGCT and 4DCT scans. In 22 of them, both images involved the liver dome. For most cases during early inhalation phases, the Δy values in the dorsal diaphragm were significantly greater than those in the ventral diaphragm (p < 0.05), the ΔA values were significantly enlarged with inhalation progressing (p < 0.05), and the Δr values in the dorsal direction were significantly larger than those in the ventral direction (p < 0.05). These results suggested that the dorsal diaphragm moves earlier and more in a caudal direction than the ventral diaphragm during early inhalation phases. CONCLUSIONS: For respiratory-gated radiotherapy near end-exhalation and irradiation fields involving the liver dome, components of geometric uncertainties are temporospatial, including diaphragm segment movements, inhalation phases of irradiation, and beam angles of incidence.

[Feasibility of Perioperative Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Assessment of Residual Neuromuscular Blockade].

Objective To evaluate the relationship between diaphragmatic ultrasound and postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade(PRNB). Methods The patients undergoing non-thoracic and abdominal surgery under general anesthesia from August to October in 2019 were randomly enrolled from Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Diaphragmatic ultrasound was acquired pre-operation and post extubation.A 4-15 MHz probe was used to measure diaphragmatic thickness at the intersection point of 8-9 intercostal space with right anterior axillary line at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing and deep breathing(DB),and the diaphragmatic thickness fraction(DTF)was calculated.A 1-5 MHz probe was used to measure diaphragmatic excursion(DE)at the intersection point of right costal margin with midaxillary line during quiet breathing and DB.Train of four ratio(TOFr)was recorded for neuromuscular monitoring.TOFr,observer assessment of alertness and sedation score at extubation,Aldrete score at postanesthesia care unit,and postoperative pulmonary complication were recorded. Results The PRNB rate was 54.7%.The DTF-DB [31.3(21.1,45.0)vs.38.5(26.6,53.9),P=0.045] and DE-DB(2.9±1.4 vs.4.1±1.0,P<0.001)in PRNB group was lower than those in the group without PRNB.DTF-DB(r=0.351,P=0.002)and DE-DB(r=0.580,P<0.001)were correlated with TOFr. Conclusion Perioperative diaphragmatic ultrasound may be helpful for the diagnosis of PRNB.

Feasibility of Perioperative Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Assessment of Residual Neuromuscular Blockade / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To evaluate the relationship between diaphragmatic ultrasound and postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade(PRNB). Methods The patients undergoing non-thoracic and abdominal surgery under general anesthesia from August to October in 2019 were randomly enrolled from Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Diaphragmatic ultrasound was acquired pre-operation and post extubation.A 4-15 MHz probe was used to measure diaphragmatic thickness at the intersection point of 8-9 intercostal space with right anterior axillary line at the end of inspiration and expiration during quiet breathing and deep breathing(DB),and the diaphragmatic thickness fraction(DTF)was calculated.A 1-5 MHz probe was used to measure diaphragmatic excursion(DE)at the intersection point of right costal margin with midaxillary line during quiet breathing and DB.Train of four ratio(TOFr)was recorded for neuromuscular monitoring.TOFr,observer assessment of alertness and sedation score at extubation,Aldrete score at postanesthesia care unit,and postoperative pulmonary complication were recorded. Results The PRNB rate was 54.7%.The DTF-DB [31.3(21.1,45.0)vs.38.5(26.6,53.9),P=0.045] and DE-DB(2.9±1.4 vs.4.1±1.0,P<0.001)in PRNB group was lower than those in the group without PRNB.DTF-DB(r=0.351,P=0.002)and DE-DB(r=0.580,P<0.001)were correlated with TOFr. Conclusion Perioperative diaphragmatic ultrasound may be helpful for the diagnosis of PRNB.

Effects of dynamic core-postural chain stabilization on diaphragm movement, abdominal muscle thickness, and postural control in patients with subacute stroke: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS)-based exercise is effective for improving core stability and postural control in stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of DNS and conventional NDT exercises on diaphragm movement, abdominal muscle thickness, and postural control in stroke patients. METHODS: The participants were randomly allocated into DNS (n = 16) and NDT (n = 15) for 30 minutes each per day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Diaphragm movement and abdominal muscle thickness were determined using ultrasonography. The trunk impairment scale (TIS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to measure postural control. The functional ambulation category (FAC) was used to evaluate gait ability. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate post-test differences in the DNS and NDT exercise groups. RESULTS: ANCOVA revealed the superior effects of DNS in diaphragm movement and abdominal muscle thickness (transversus abdominis, internal oblique), as well as clinical BBS and FAC tests, compared with those of NDT (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This novel clinical trial suggests that DNS training was more effective than NDT training in improving postural movement control and gait ability via a balanced co-activation of the diaphragm and TrA/IO in stroke patients.

Correlation between the dimensions of diaphragm movement, respiratory functions and pressures in accordance with the gross motor function classification system levels in children with cerebral palsy.

This study was executed as correlation study to investigate the correlation between the dimensions of diaphragm movement, and respiratory functions and pressures in accordance with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels on children with cerebral palsy as the participants. Forty-three children in the age range of 5-13 years diagnosed with cerebral palsy as the research participants were divided into three groups (levels I, II, and III) through systematic stratified random sampling in accordance with their GMFCS levels. Pearson correlation analysis was executed to examine the correlation between dimensions of diaphragm movement, and respiratory functions and pressures in accordance with the GMFCS levels of the participants. There was no significant correlation between the dimensions of diaphragm movement, and respiratory functions and pressures in all of the three groups in accordance with the GMFCS levels of the participants. Therefore, it is deemed that although measurement of the dimensions of diaphragm movement of children with cerebral palsy by using diagnostic ultrasonic M-mode imaging device can be considered as auxiliary tool in predicting the breathing capabilities, it cannot be used as independent measurement equipment.

Value of the diaphragm movement index tested by ultrosonography for ventilation weaning / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective To evaluate the diaphragm movement index of mechanical ventilation weaning patients by ultrosonography, and to explore its value for weaning. Methods Forty patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours admitted to emergency intensive care unit (EICU) of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2017 to February 2018 were enrolled. Low level pressure support ventilation (PSV) was used for spontaneous breathing test (SBT), and bedside M-mode ultrasonography was used to assess the diaphragm movement index of the patient within 1 hour of SBT, including the excursion of the diaphragm, diaphragmatic-rapid shallow breathing index (D-RSBI). The rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) was measured by ventilator. The patients who met the clinical weaning criteria were weaned. According to the success or failure of the weaning, the patients were divided into the successful weaning group and the failure weaning group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each indicator to the failure of the weaning. Results A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the final analysis, including 28 patients in the successful weaning group and 12 patients in the failure weaning group. The excursion of the diaphragm in the failure weaning group was significantly less than that in the successful weaning group (mm: 9.56±2.13 vs. 13.66±4.10, P < 0.01), and the D-RSBI and RSBI were significantly higher than those in the successful weaning group [D-RSBI (times·min-1·mm-1): 2.06±0.68 vs. 1.44±0.66, RSBI (times·min-1·L-1): 61.70±25.00 vs. 44.91±14.51, both P < 0.05]. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of diaphragm displacement, D-RSBI, and RSBI was 0.830, 0.851 and 0.711, respectively, and the predicted value of diaphragm excursion and D-RSBI was higher. When the optimal critical value of diaphragmatic excursion was 11.15 mm, the sensitivity of predicting weaning failure was 83.3%, the specificity was 71.4%; when the optimal critical value of D-RSBI was 1.42 times·min-1·mm-1, the sensitivity of predicting the failure of weaning was 91.7%, and the specificity was 82.1%. Conclusion Diaphragm excursion and D-RSBI of the diaphragmatic ultrosonography index could accurately predict the failure of the weaning, which was superior to the traditional RSBI in guiding weaning.

Inter- and intratester reliability values of ultrasound imaging measurements of diaphragm movement in the thoracic and thoracolumbar curves in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine intertester and intratester reliability of ultrasound measurements of bilateral diaphragm excursions in the thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal curves of 31 females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) (mean age = 14.1 ± 1.8 years). METHOD: Subjects were tested during tidal breathing using real-time ultrasound imaging with a 3.5 MHz curvilinear transducer. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in intratester and intertester reliability values in bilateral diaphragmatic excursions measured at the thoracolumbar spinal curve, whereas significant differences were observed in measurements taken at the thoracic spinal curve (p < 0.05). Overall, the intertester and intratester reliabilities of the thoracic and thoracolumbar curves in AIS ranged from 0.764 to 0.998. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ultrasound imaging is highly reliable between and within testers and is useful to precisely discriminate pathological diaphragm movement in idiopathic thoracic scoliosis and idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis.

Diaphragmatic regional displacement assessed by ultrasound and correlated to subphrenic organ movement in the critically ill patients--an observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of the study are to identify the most reliably imaged regions of the diaphragm, to evaluate the correlation of movement between different parts of each hemidiaphragm, and to assess the agreement between liver or spleen displacement and movement of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm. METHODS: Images of the diaphragm, liver, and spleen were obtained using 2-dimensional ultrasound. Acceptable agreement between regions of the diaphragm, liver, and spleen was defined as an absence of fixed or proportional bias using Deming regression analysis and limits of agreement of 2 SDs of the difference less than 30% of the mean value. RESULTS: We included 90 critically ill patients. The medial (87%) and middle (73%) regions of the right hemidiaphragm, liver (87.7%), and spleen (81%) and medial (71%) and middle regions (51%) of the left hemidiaphragm were most frequently imaged. In nonintubated patients, acceptable agreement was present for comparisons of the left middle and medial, right middle and medial, and left middle regions and spleen displacement. In intubated patients and in all patients when combined, acceptable agreement was only present for comparisons of the left middle and medial and right middle and medial regions of the diaphragm. Acceptable agreement was not present for intubated and all patients for diaphragmatic and solid organ movement. CONCLUSION: The diaphragm medial part is visualized in the majority of studied patients. The medial and middle thirds may be used interchangeably to assess hemidiaphragm movement. Acceptable agreement does not exist for diaphragm and solid organ movement, other than for the left middle region and the spleen.

Diaphragm breathing movement measurement using ultrasound and radiographic imaging: a concurrent validity.

Recent ultrasound imaging evidence asserts that the diaphragm is an important multifunctional muscle to control breathing as well as stabilize the core and posture in humans. However, the validity and accuracy of ultrasound for the measurement of dynamic diaphragm movements during breathing and functional core activities have not been determined. The specific aim of this study was to validate the accuracy of ultrasound imaging measurements of diaphragm movements by concurrently comparing these measurements to the gold standard of radiographic imaging measurements. A total of 14 asymptomatic adults (9 males, 5 females; mean age =28.4 ± 3.0 years) were recruited to participate in the study. Ultrasound and radiographic images were used concurrently to determine diaphragm movement (inspiration, expiration, and excursion) during tidal breathing. Pearson correlation analysis showed strong correlations, ranging from r=0.78 to r=0.83, between ultrasound and radiographic imaging measurements of the diaphragm during inhalation, exhalation, and excursion. These findings suggest that ultrasound imaging measurement is useful to accurately evaluate diaphragm movements during tidal breathing. Clinically, ultrasound imaging measurements can be used to diagnose and treat diaphragm movement impairments in individuals with neuromuscular disorders including spinal cord injuries, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.