A 65-year-old man has been ventilated for 5 days for pneumonia. The team performs a bedside ultrasound of the diaphragm during a spontaneous breathing...

Question

A 65-year-old man has been ventilated for 5 days for pneumonia. The team performs a bedside ultrasound of the diaphragm during a spontaneous breathing trial. The right hemidiaphragm shows a thickening fraction of 15% (normal >30-36%). What does this finding suggest?

Accepted Answer

Diaphragmatic dysfunction - the patient may fail the SBT or be at risk of extubation failure

Answer

Normal diaphragmatic function

Answer

The ultrasound probe is incorrectly positioned

Answer

Pleural effusion compressing the diaphragm

Answer

Phrenic nerve palsy from cardiac surgery

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Weaning - Diaphragm Ultrasound

A 65-year-old man has been ventilated for 5 days for pneumonia. The team performs a bedside ultrasound of the diaphragm during a spontaneous breathing trial. The right hemidiaphragm shows a thickening fraction of 15% (normal >30-36%). What does this finding suggest?