This will be a prospective observational study where the investigator will scan patients' necks with an ultrasound and look for anatomical landmarks that may help identify the phrenic nerve.
Patients under protective mechanical ventilation, an intervention that saves lives, may need sedation and paralyzing agents. However, sedation and paralyzing agents are associated with multiple complications, including diaphragm dysfunction. Several strategies have been proposed to reduce diaphram dysfunction. A novel approach is to stimulate the phrenic nerve, either transvenously or transcutaneously. Transvenous stimulation requires a catheter, which eventually is associated with increased risk of infection and thrombosis. In this scenario, transcutaneous phrenic nerve pacing is attractive but may be more susceptible to patients' anthropometric measures. The correlation between patients' anthropometric measures and the location of the phrenic has been poorly studied.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
63
The investigators will scan patients' necks with an ultrasound and look for anatomical landmarks to identify the phrenic nerve
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
To evaluate the number of participants where the investigators will successfully identify the phrenic nerve using only ultrasound and anatomical landmarks
Time frame: 25-30 minutes
To measure both phrenic nerves depth with an ultrasound in a heterogeneous population in the ICU
Time frame: 25-30 minutes
To measure the distance, in milimeters, between each phrenic nerve and other homolateral cervical structures such as the carotid artery and the jugular vein
Time frame: 25-30 minutes
To describe potential clinical and anthropometric variables associated with phrenic nerve depth
Time frame: 25-30 minutes
To assess how long it takes to find the phrenic nerve with ultrasound visualization.
Time frame: 25-30 minutes
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