Diaphragmatic ultrasound as a monitoring tool in the intensive care unit

Critically ill patients are a group of patients with special needs during hospitalization. The vast majority of them is mechanically ventilated and requires continuous assessment of vital parameters. Intensive care unit (ICU) is the environment that renders this monitoring feasible. A lot of parameters characterizing cardiac function, hemodynamic status, pulmonary function—oxygenation, acid base balance, renal function, nutrition and gastrointestinal function are continuously or repetitively monitored. It is quite impressive that assessment of respiratory muscles, and specifically of the diaphragm, is lacking in the daily practice of ICUs. This is the case despite the fact that there is robust evidence about diaphragmatic dysfunction in ICU patients under mechanical ventilation.