Diaphragm thickening fraction as a predictor of the need for ventilatory support in the emergency department: an observational pilot study
References
- Schepens T, Verbrugghe W, Dams K, Corthouts B, Parizel PM, Jorens PG. The course of diaphragm atrophy in ventilated patients assessed with ultrasound: a longitudinal cohort study. Crit Care. 2015 Dec 7;19:422. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-1141-0.
- Umbrello M, Formenti P, Longhi D, Galimberti A, Piva I, Pezzi A, et al. Diaphragm ultrasound as indicator of respiratory effort in critically ill patients undergoing assisted mechanical ventilation: a pilot clinical study. Crit Care. 2015 Apr 13;19(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-0894-9.
- Dres M, Goligher EC, Heunks LMA, Brochard LJ. Critical illness-associated diaphragm weakness. Intensive Care Med. 2017 Oct;43(10):1441–1452. doi: 10.1007/s00134-017-4928-4.
- Goligher EC, Dres M, Fan E, Rubenfeld GD, Scales DC, Herridge MS, et al. Mechanical ventilation-induced diaphragm atrophy strongly impacts clinical outcomes. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 Jan 15;197(2):204–213. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201703-0536OC.
- Sarwal A, Walker FO, Cartwright MS. Neuromuscular ultrasound for evaluation of the diaphragm. Muscle Nerve. 2013 Mar;47(3):319–329. doi: 10.1002/mus.23671.
- Dubé BP, Dres M, Mayaux J, Demiri S, Similowski T, Demoule A. Ultrasound evaluation of diaphragm function in mechanically ventilated patients: comparison to phrenic stimulation and prognostic implications. Thorax. 2017 Sep;72(9):811–818. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209459.
- Suttapanit K, Wongkrasunt S, Savatmongkorngul S, Supatanakij P. Ultrasono-graphic evaluation of the diaphragm in critically ill patients to predict invasive mechanical ventilation. J Intensive Care. 2023 Sep 19;11(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s40560-023-00690-3.
- Marchioni A, Castaniere I, Tonelli R, Fantini R, Fontana M, Tabbì L, et al. Ultrasound-assessed diaphragmatic impairment is a predictor of outcomes in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing noninvasive ventilation. Crit Care. 2018 Apr 27;22(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s13054-018-2033-x.
- Demoule A, Jung B, Prodanovic H, Molinari N, Chanques G, Coirault C, et al. Diaphragm dysfunction on admission to the intensive care unit: prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic impact – a prospective study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Jul 15;188(2):213–219. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201209-1668OC.
- Mercurio G, D'Arrigo S, Moroni R, Grieco DL, Menga LS, Romano A, et al. Diaphragm thickening fraction predicts noninvasive ventilation outcome: a preliminary physiological study. Crit Care. 2021 Jun 26;25(1):219. doi: 10.1186/s13054-021-03638-x.
- Cammarota G, Sguazzotti I, Zanoni M, Messina A, Colombo D, Vignazia GL, et al. Diaphragmatic ultrasound assessment in subjects with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure admitted to the emergency department. Respir Care. 2019 Dec;64(12):1469–1477. doi: 10.4187/respcare.06803.
- Chong CY, Bustam A, Noor Azhar M, Abdul Latif AK, Ismail R, Poh K, et al. Evaluation of HACOR scale as a predictor of non-invasive ventilation failure in acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema patients: A prospective observational study. Am J Emerg Med. 2024 May;79:19–24. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.01.044.
- Kheir M, Dong V, Roselli V, Mina B. The role of ultrasound in predicting noninvasive ventilation outcomes: a systematic review. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Oct 31;10:1233518. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1233518.
- Xia J, Qian CY, Yang L, Li MJ, Liu XX, Yang T, Lu Q. Influence of lung aeration on diaphragmatic contractility during a spontaneous breathing trial: an ultrasound study. J Intensive Care. 2019 Dec 2;7:54. doi: 10.1186/s40560-019-0409-x.
Language: English
Submitted on: Dec 10, 2025
Accepted on: Feb 9, 2026
Published on: Jun 30, 2026
Published by: MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS Sp. z o.o.
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Related subjects:
© 2026 Carmine Cristiano Di Gioia, Alice Alame, Maria Lucrezia Grisan, Gianmarco Sicuranza, Eli Ollari, Filippo Orlando, Daniele Orso, published by MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS Sp. z o.o.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.