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Updated: Oct 8, 2025
05:51
Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation
Published on: January 31, 2025
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Can diaphragm excursion predict prognosis in patients with severe pneumonia?
Aslıhan Gürün Kaya1, Elvan Burak Verdi1, Sema Nur Süslü1
1Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Disease, Ankara, Turkey.
Tuberkuloz Ve Toraks
|December 27, 2021
Summary
Diaphragmatic excursion (Dex) measured by ultrasound can predict severe pneumonia prognosis. Lower Dex values in critical care patients indicate higher mortality risk and need for mechanical ventilation.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Thorax ultrasound is used for pneumonia diagnosis.
- The prognostic value of ultrasonic diaphragm evaluation in pneumonia is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of diaphragmatic excursion (Dex) measured by ultrasound on the prognosis of severe pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recruitment of severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU.
- Recording of diaphragmatic excursion (Dex) values, vital signs, clinical features, laboratory parameters, APACHE-II scores, mortality, and respiratory support status.
Main Results:
- Mean Dex was significantly lower in non-survivors compared to survivors (18.37 vs 34.90 mm).
- Lower Dex was associated with increased need for invasive mechanical ventilation (24.90 vs 34.26 mm).
- A Dex cut-off of 19.0 mm predicted survival with high sensitivity (96.6%) and specificity (70%), and was negatively correlated with APACHE-II score and respiratory rate.
Conclusions:
- Diaphragmatic excursion (Dex) measured on ICU admission is a valuable tool for evaluating the prognosis of severe pneumonia patients.
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