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Review
. 2023 Nov;42(11):2481-2490.
doi: 10.1002/jum.16291. Epub 2023 Jun 26.

Imaging of the Diaphragm Following Cardiac Surgery: Focus on Ultrasonographic Assessment

Vincenzo Rizza  1 , Francesco Maranta  2 , Lorenzo Cianfanelli  2 , Iside Cartella  3 , Ottavio Alfieri  4 , Domenico Cianflone  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Imaging of the Diaphragm Following Cardiac Surgery: Focus on Ultrasonographic Assessment

Vincenzo Rizza et al. J Ultrasound Med. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Diaphragm dysfunction is a common complication following cardiac surgery. Its clinical impact is variable, ranging from the absence of symptoms to the acute respiratory failure. Post-operative diaphragm dysfunction may negatively affect patients' prognosis delaying the weaning from the mechanical ventilation (MV), extending the time of hospitalization and increasing mortality. Ultrasonography is a valid tool to evaluate diaphragmatic impairment in different settings, like the Intensive Care Unit, to predict successful weaning from the MV, and the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, to stratify patients in terms of risk of functional recovery failure. The aim of this review is to describe the pathophysiology of post-cardiac surgery diaphragm dysfunction, the techniques used for its diagnosis and the potential applications of diaphragm ultrasound.

Keywords: cardiac surgery; diaphragm dysfunction; diaphragm imaging; diaphragm ultrasound.

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