Assessment of Progressive Diaphragmatic Atrophy in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Failure

Abstract

echanical ventilation (MV) has been used throughout history as a basic tool in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure, and as a means of improving prognosis. Almost 40% of mechanically ventilated patients have difficulties during MV weaning, due to multiple factors. A delay in weaning can prolong the stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and lead to a poorer prognosis and increase in mortality compared to patients with no weaning problems. In the last years, attention has focused on the study of ventilation-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) as one of the complications associated with MV. This term refers to diaphragm dysfunction that occurs soon after initiating MV.