ObjectiveTo observe the curative effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with stable moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsSixty-four patients with stable moderate to severe COPD who visited during January 2016 and December 2017 were recruited in the study. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 32 cases in each group. The spirometry was conducted in all patients. The right deep inspiratory end diaphragm thickness and the quiet end expiratory diaphragm thickness were measured by ultrasound, and the diaphragm thickness fraction (DTF) was calculated. The routine drug treatment was given in both groups. The comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment was given in the observation group (include breath training, exercise training, health education and nutrition guide). The pulmonary function, diaphragm function, severity and quality of life were evaluated before and 6 months later after the treatment.ResultsIn the observation group, the predicted value of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%pred), FEV1/FVC ratio and DTF were all significantly improved compare with before treatment and the control group (all P<0.05). While the BODE index was significantly declined compare with before treatment and the control group (all P<0.05).ConclusionPulmonary rehabilitation treatment can help improve pulmonary function, diaphragm function, condition of the disease and quality of life.
ObjectiveTo explore the technical feasibility, safety, and short- and long-term efficacy of totally portal minimally invasive thoracoscopic diaphragmatic folding assisted by a stapler for the treatment of symptomatic diaphragmatic eventration in adults. MethodsAretrospective study was conducted on patients with symptomatic diaphragmatic eventration who underwent totally portal minimally invasive thoracoscopic stapler-assisted diaphragmatic folding from August 2021 to February 2025. Surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, length of hospital stay, and complications were recorded. One month postoperatively, diaphragmatic position, lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) ], and symptom relief were assessed, with extended follow-up to 36 months to monitor long-term efficacy. ResultsA total of 7 patients were included, comprising 3 (42.9%) males and 4 (57.1%) females, with an age range of 34 to 66 years and a mean age of (56.4±12.5) years. All surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to open thoracotomy or intraoperative complications. The average surgical time was (44.29±11.47) minutes, intraoperative blood loss was (25.71±33.09) mL, and the postoperative length of stay was (2.00±0.58) days. One-month follow-up showed that the diaphragmatic position returned to normal anatomical levels, FEV1 improved from preoperative (1.93±0.33) L to (2.36±0.47) L, and the effective rate of clinical symptom relief reached 100.0%. Long-term follow-up (36 months) showed: (1) Pain scores decreased from (1.14±0.38) points at one month postoperatively to (0.14±0.38) points at three months postoperatively, remaining at 0 points at six months and thereafter; (2) All patients had stable diaphragmatic positions with no recurrence; (3) FEV1/FVC was ≥80% at three months postoperatively, with three assessable patients at six months maintaining ≥80%; (4) SpO2 remained ≥95% throughout, with no hypoxic events. ConclusionTotally portal minimally invasive thoracoscopic stapler-assisted diaphragmatic folding is a minimally invasive procedure with rapid recovery, significantly improving lung function and stabilizing diaphragmatic anatomical position. Follow-up at 36 months showed complete pain relief, no recurrence, and long-term stability of lung function, making it a safe and effective surgical option for treating symptomatic diaphragmatic eventration in adults. Long-term efficacy still requires validation with a larger sample size.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features,treatment and pathogenesis of shrinking lung syndrome (SLS). MethodsA patient of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)with SLS as initial manifestation was reported.Literatures about SLS were comprehensively reviewed for its clinical characteristics and pathogenesis. ResultsA 27-year-old man was admitted with chief complaint of intermittent dyspnea and chest pain in 2009.Chest X-ray showed small lung volume and elevated diaphragms.Chest CT revealed bilateral pleural thickness and multiple atelectasis,without significant sign of interstitial fibrosis.Lung function showed restrictive pattern.Routine blood test revealed declined white blood cell and platelet count.C3 and C4 were declined.The autoantibody test revealed positive ANA,dsDNA,AHA,and RNP antibody.A diagnosis of SLE with SLS was made.The patient received corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy and was followed up for 5 years.His symptoms had relieved,but there was no obvious improvement in chest radiology and lung function.A total of 118 SLS cases were recorded in literature review,among which 100 were females and 18 were males.The average age was 32.98±14.66 years.Common clinical features of SLS included dyspnea,chest pain,orthopnea,breathlessness,and decreased breath sound.Radiology revealed small lung volume,elevated diaphragm,and dysfunction of diaphragm.Lung function showed restrictive pattern.The primary treatment of the disease was corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents.The use of theophylline,β-agonist and rituximab was also reported. ConclusionWe should be aware of SLS in patients with SLE or other autoimmune diseases when they present with unexplained dyspnea.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of the diaphragm ultrasound for weaning from mechanical ventilation.MethodsThe patients who received mechanical ventilation in Fujian Provincial Hospital between February 2016 to December 2017 and met the criteria for a T-tube spontaneous breathing trial were included in the study. Then right diaphragmatic displacement (DD) and diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) were evaluated using M-mode ultrasonography as well as the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI, the ratio of respiratory rate to tidal volume). A new index was named as the diaphragmatic-RSBI (D-RSBI, the ratio of respiratory rate to DD). The patients were classified into a success group or a failure group according to the weaning outcomes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of each index.ResultsFifty-nine patients were weaned successfully and failure of weaning was found in 29 patients. There were no statistically significant differences in pre-weaning parameters including age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood lipid index (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride), or fast blood glucose between the weaning success group and the weaning failure group (P>0.05), but there were statistically significant differences in body mass index and acute physiology and chronic health condition Ⅱ score between two groups (P<0.05). DD [(13.44±3.23)mm vs. (10.28±2.82)mm, DTF [(32.43±12.35)% vs. (27.64±5.77)%, P<0.05] and D-RSBI [(1.49±0.47) breaths·min–1·mm–1 vs. (2.55±0.87) breaths·min–1·mm–1, P<0.05] differed significantly between the weaning success group and the weaning failure group. A cutoff of DTF≥27.9% yielded a sensitivity of 98.3%, a specificity of 62.1%, and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.873. A cutoff of D-RSBI≤1.73 breaths·min–1·mm–1 yielded a sensitivity of 76.3%, a specificity of 93.1%, and an AUC of 0.887. By comparison, when RSBI was ≤50.9 breaths·min–1·mm–1, there was a sensitivity of 91.5%, a specificity of 86.2%, and an AUC of 0.927. There was no statistically significant difference in AUC between D-RSBI and RSBI (P>0.05).ConclusionsDiaphragm ultrasound is feasible to predict the outcome of weaning. DTF and D-RSBI are as same accurate as the traditional RSBI in predicting the weaning outcome, but more objective and suitable for clinical application.
Objective To study the role of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in diaphragm of COPD rats. Mathods Thirty rats were divided into a normal control group and a COPD group. COPD model was established by exposure to cigarette smoke for three months. The protein levels of E2-14k and proteasome subunit C8 in diaphragms were measured by Western blot. The mRNA levels of ubiquitin and proteasome subunit C2 in diaphragms were measured bymeans of realtime polymerase chain reaction( RT-PCR) . Results Compared with the control group, the protein expression of E2-14k increased significantly in the COPD group ( 0. 81 ±0. 28 vs 0. 50 ±0. 25, P lt;0. 05) , but C8 protein level was not significantly different between the two groups( P gt;0. 05) . The mRNA expression of ubiquitin increased significantly in the COPD group( 0. 89 ±0. 20 vs 0. 50 ±0. 15, P lt;0. 05) , but C2 mRNA level was not significantly different between the two groups ( P gt; 0. 05 ) . Conclusions The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in diaphragmincreased significantly in COPD rats, suggesting that the activity of ubiquitin-proteasome pathwayincreased, which lead to an increase of protein degradation.
Objective To investigate the changes of respiratory mechanics in response to elevated respiratory central drive and their impacts on the inspiratory signals detection.Methods 10 normal volunteers were recruited for the study from the colleagues of the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease. Rebreathing method was used to increase the end expiratory PCO2 ( PCO2 -ET) to the subject’s maximal tolerance in order to stimulate the increase of respiratory central drive. The changes of respiratory mechanics in response to elevated respiratory central drive and their impacts on the initiation signals of inspiration were observed.Results After re-breathing, the average maximal tolerated PCO2 -ET was ( 81. 2 ±6. 6) mm Hg. As the PCO2 -ET rising, electromyogram of diaphragmatic muscle ( RMSdi ) ,transdiaphragmatic pressure ( Pdi ) and tidal volume ( VT ) increased progressively while the time of respiratory cycle ( Ttot ) shorten gradually. As the PCO2 -ETlevel increased frombaseline [ PCO2 -ET( level-0) ] to the maximal level [ PCO2 -ET( level-4) ] , RMSdi increased from( 17. 17 ±12. 41) μV to ( 147. 99 ±161. 64) μV,Pdi and VT increased from ( 7. 5 ±1. 7) cmH2O and ( 0. 68 ±0. 27) L to ( 26. 13 ±11. 51) cm H2O and ( 2. 21 ±0. 37) L respectively, while Ttot shorten from ( 2. 91 ±0. 85) s to ( 1. 92 ±0. 39) s. These four parameters of respiratory mechanics, RMSdi, Pdi, VT and Ttot, were highly correlated linearly with PCO2 -ET ( r value was 0. 956, 0. 973,0. 956 and 0. 89 respectively, all P lt;0. 001) . At the start of inspiration, the first detectable signal was electromyogramof diaphragmatic muscle ( RMSdi) , followed by mouth pressure ( Pm)and inspiratory flow ( Flow) on time sequence. As the rising of PCO2 -ET, the time lag of Pmand Flow from RMSdi after the initiation of inspiration increased gradually. However, the time lag between Flow and Pm remained constant. Conclusions At the start of inspiration, the signal of RMSdi appears first as compared with Pm and Flow. As the rising of PCO2 -ET, the time lag of Pmand Flow fromRMSdi after the initiation of inspiration increased gradually, suggesting RMSdi is more sensitive inspiratory signal, which might be used for triggering of ventilator in order to improve the synchronization, especially in the situation of elevated respiratory central drive.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical outcomes of diaphragm plication for the treatment of diaphragmatic paralysis (DP) in infants after surgical correction for congenital heart diseases. MethodsClinical data of 13 infants who had DP after surgical correction for congenital heart diseases from December 2009 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 male and 8 female patients with their age of 35 days-11 months (6.6±3.2 months) and body weight of 3.5-9.6 (6.2±1.8) kg. Diaphragm plication was performed 19.08±4.29 days after open heart surgery. All the patients were not able to wean from mechanical ventilation,or were repeatedly reintubated because of severe respiratory failure after extubation. All the 13 patients received diaphragm plication for singleor double-sided DP. ResultsTwo patients had ventilator associated pneumonia (15.4%) including 1 patient with positive sputum cultures for Acinetobacter baumannii but negative blood culture. Another patient who had double-sided DP after surgical correction for tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia underwent double-sided diaphragm plication and later died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,whose sputum and blood cultures were both positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the 11th day after double-sided diaphragm plication. Chest X-ray of all the patients showed plicated diaphragm in normal position after diaphragm plication. The average time from diaphragm plication to extubation was 5.38±3.09 days. After diaphragm plication,arterial partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) significantly increased (90.22±8.47 mm Hg vs. 80.69±6.72 mm Hg,P<0.05) and arterial partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) significantly decreased (39.87±6.31 mm Hg vs. 56.38±7.19 mm Hg,P<0.05). Twelve patients were followed up for 24 months after discharge. During follow-up,1 patient who received double-sided diaphragm plication had 2 episodes of pneumonia within 6 months after discharge. Respiratory function of all the other patients was normal. All the patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ-Ⅱ. ConclusionDiaphragm plication is a safe,easy and effective treatment to increase survival rate and decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infection for infants who have DP and are unable to wean from mechanical ventilation after surgical correction for congenital heart diseases.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of diaphrammatic paralysis (DP) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) after cardiac surgery. MethodsBetween October 2008 and June 2014, among 2 962 infant patients ( < 1 year) underwent cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease, postoperative DP was diagnosed in 31 patients. The paralysed hemidiaphragm was left side in 10 patients, right side in 15 patients, and bilateral in 6 patients. There were 22 males and 9 females. The age at operation was 1-12 (4.5±4.2) months on the average. The body weight at operation was 2.9 to 8.5 (5.6±2.2) kg on the average.All children received mechanical ventilation. ResultsNo patient died in this study.There was a statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative mechanical ventilation time at 123-832 (420±223) hours versus 15-212 (75±58) hours (P < 0.05). ConclusionsDP caused by phrenic nerve injury during surgical intervention for congenital heart disease is an important risk factor in terms of morbidity during the postoperative period. Diaphragmatic plication appears a good option, especially in infant children, to wean patients from mechanical ventilation and to prevent long-term side effects of mechanical ventilation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of diaphragmatic rapid shallow breathing index (D-RSBI) for weaning outcome prediction.MethodsThis was a prospective observation study. Respiratory rate (RR) and tidal volume (Vt) were recorded at the end of spontaneous breathing trial, and both M-Mode and B-Mode ultrasonography were used to assess the right diaphragmatic displacement (DD). In parallel, outcome of the weaning attempt, length of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality of ICU were recorded. According to the weaning outcome, the patients were grouped into the successful group and the failed group. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the value of rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI, RR/Vt) and D-RSBI (RR/DD) in predicting weaning failure for ICU patients with mechanical ventilation.ResultsA total of 110 patients recruited in this study. Of them, 73 (66.4%) patients were successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation, and 37 patients failed (33.6%) weaning procedure. The RSBI and D-RSBI of the patients in the failed group were higher than those in the success weaning group (P<0.01). The area under the ROC curves of RSBI and D-RSBI for predicting weaning failure was 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.69 - 0.87), 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.85 - 0.97), respectively, a cutoff of RSBI>69 breaths/(L·min) yielded sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 89%, and a cutoff of D-RSBI>1.5 breaths/(min·mm) yielded sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 80%.ConclusionD-RSBI is more accurate than traditional RSBI in predicting the weaning outcome.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of early graded respiratory severe rehabilitation training for patients with mechanical ventilation under a multidisciplinary model.MethodsTwo hundred and thirty-six patients were surveyed, who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 3, 2019 to March 31, 2020. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 118 patients in each group. The observation group received rehabilitation training using early graded rehabilitation training under the mode of multidisciplinary cooperation, while the control group received routine respiratory rehabilitation training. Diaphragmatic excursion (DE) and diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) of the patients before ventilator weaning were measured by ultrasound. The differences of DE, DTF, peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), success rate of withdrawal, duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) stay between the two groups were recorded and compared.ResultsAll evaluation indexes were statistically significant between the observation group and the control group (all P<0.05). There were interaction between oxygenation index, PEF, MIP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Score, Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score and recovery time.ConclusionRehabilitation training on early graded severe respiratory diseases under a multidisciplinary model can improve the respiratory function of patients on mechanical ventilation and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay.