title: Computed tomography confirms a reduction in diaphragm thickness in mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: Patients who require mechanical ventilation (MV) may experience diaphragm atrophy, which may delay the discontinuation of MV. Here, we used computed tomographic (CT) scans to confirm this phenomenon.
  
  
  
  Patients who underwent two chest CT scans while on MV were retrospectively evaluated. Diaphragm thickness was measured using a three-dimensional CT image processing program.
  
  
  
  Thirteen patients, including 8 men, who underwent 26 CT scans were assessed. The mean age was 67.8 ± 7.5 years. The interval between CT scans was 18.4 ± 14.9 days. The first CT scans revealed that the mean thicknesses of the left and right sides of the diaphragm were 3.8 ± 0.6 and 3.9 ± 0.8 mm, respectively (total: 7.7 ± 1.4 mm). These values were significantly reduced to 3.4 ± 0.6 and 3.5 ± 0.9 mm, respectively, (total: 6.9 ± 1.5 mm) after the second scan (P < .01). No significant change in body weight (57.3 ± 12.6 vs. 56.7 ± 11.6 kg) or body mass index (21.8 ± 5.1 vs. 21.6 ± 4.8 kg/m(2)) was observed.
  
  
  
  Computed tomography confirmed that diaphragm thickness was reduced in critically ill patients who underwent MV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.. Electronic address: hochkim@gnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ho Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungsoo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.; Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Deog
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computed tomography; Diaphragm; Mechanical ventilation; Thickness