Ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic excursion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with different severities

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with dysfunctional diaphragmatic breathing we assess the diaphragmatic excursion at different stages of COPD patients by transthoracic ultrasound.

The present study aimed to assess the diaphragmatic excursion at different stages of COPD patients by transthoracic ultrasound.

In this observational case–control study, 80 COPD patients were included according to GOLD guidelines 2020 attending the Chest Clinic in Badr Hospital, Helwan University. All patients were divided equally into 5 groups according to FEV1 measured by spirometer: group (1) normal person; group (2) mild stage FEV1_80% predicted; group (3) moderate stage 50%_FEV1 < 80% predicted; group (4) severe stage 30%_FEV1 < 50% predicted; and group (5) very severe stage FEV1 < 30% predicted. We measured diaphragmatic movement in all these patients using ultrasound.

The outcomes result of normal, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe groups in terms of post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC are 0.66 ± 0.05, 0.65 ± 0.05, 0.63 ± 0.04, 0.51 ± 0.068 respectively showed was a significant difference. There was a significant difference of FEV1 are 86.70 ± 5.62, 63.00 ± 13.81, 43.00 ± 6.78, 24.00 ± 4.17, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in diaphragmatic thickness at the end of normal expiration are 0.49 ± 0.12, 0.51 ± 0.09, 0.47 ± 0.16, 0.37 ± 0.07, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the diaphragmatic thickness during maximum inspiration are 0.70 ± 0.16, 0.8 ± 0.17, 0.64 ± 0.19, and 0.47 ± 0.08, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the diaphragmatic excursion during normal breathing are 2.45 ± 0.39, 1.78 ± 0.67, 1.86 ± 0.67, 1.09 ± 0.16, respectively (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in diaphragmatic Excursion during maximum inspiration are 4.41 ± 0.91, 3.83 ± 0.78, 3.36 ± 0.74, 2.36 ± 0.66 respectively (P < 0.001).

The use of ultrasonography for assessing the diaphragmatic excursion. Sonographically determined diaphragmatic excursion strongly correlates with FEV1/FVC.