Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Increase in Diaphragm and Expiratory respiratory muscles thickness is not associated with postoperative pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery: A prospective ultrasound cohort study
Authors' conclusion
An increase in mass and function of the respiratory muscle was more frequent in patients with decreased Respiratory Functional Explorations. This increase did not reduce the prevalence of post-operative pulmonary complications.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥ 65 years scheduled for elective pulmonary lobectomy
- Participants
- 101 adults
- Exposure
- Patients with vs without postoperative pulmonary complications
- Outcome
- Preoperative diaphragmatic and expiratory muscle ultrasound measurements as predictors of postoperative pulmonary outcome
Methodological detailssingle-centre, university hospital
- Single-centre
- University hospital
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Preoperative respiratory muscle thickness
Diaphragm thickness
2.4 [2.0;2.9] vs. 2.8 [2.2;3.6]
P = 0.020
No PPC vs PPC
Expiratory muscles thickness
12.5 ± 3.8 vs. 14.2 ± 3.5
P = 0.028
No PPC vs PPC
Accessory muscles thickness
34.2 ± 7.5 vs. 37.2 ± 5.7
P = 0.027
No PPC vs PPC
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | No PPC | PPC | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diaphragm thickening fraction | 52% (interval as printed [32;89]) | 76% (interval as printed [48;106]) | P = 0.019 |
Diaphragm excursion
- Same in both groups
Pulmonary function tests
- Associated with poor outcomes
Original publication
Increase in Diaphragm and Expiratory respiratory muscles thickness is not associated with postoperative pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery: A prospective ultrasound cohort study. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Published 12 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →