Ultrasound monitoring of diaphragm activity in bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis

Recovery of diaphragm activity after bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis was monitored in a term infant using a mechanical sector scanner fitted with a 5 MHz transducer. The ratio of diaphragmatic excursion during spontaneous breathing and ventilator assistance was used an objective measure for comparison of diaphragmatic activity during recovery. Ultrasound assessment of diaphragm contraction may be used to study progress in diaphragmatic paralysis.