It is often difficult for anesthesiologists to select an ultrasound method that will give consistent results and also be a reliable way to examine the diaphragm, especially on the left side of the chest. In this study, two anesthesiologists blinded to one another's scan results, will perform ultrasound scan of the diaphragm using three different methods and the measurements will be analyzed to see the reliability of each method.
Ultrasound assessment of the diaphragm is a portable and non-invasive option for assessing and monitoring diaphragmatic function. The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing. It is a muscular organ that lies in between the thorax (chest) and abdomen. By moving up and down, it helps in our breathing by aiding both the right and the left lung to inflate and deflate. Assessing diaphragmatic function provides meaningful information in the setting of chronic lung diseases, obesity and diseases of nerve and muscle dysfunction and in assessing the diaphragmatic function before and after surgery. However, ultrasound assessment of the diaphragm on the left side of chest is sometimes difficult or impossible in a large proportion of patients. There are currently three ultrasound methods to examine the diaphragm, and to date, it is not clear which technique should be used as the most reliable method. The purpose of this research study is to find out how much reliable the different ultrasound methods are in assessing the movement of the diaphragm during respiration. In this study, two anesthesiologists blinded to one another's scan results, will perform ultrasound scan of the diaphragm using three different methods and the measurements will be analyzed to see the reliability of each method. The investigators believe that the results of this study can guide medical professionals in selecting an ultrasound method that will give consistent results and a more reliable way to examine the diaphragm, especially on the left side of the chest.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
58
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
To measure the intra-rater reliability of the excursion of the zone of apposition, (ZOA)
To measure the intra-rater (between two measurements of the same scanner) reliability of the excursion of the ZOA using a linear probe over the lateral chest wall, quantified by Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the inter-rater reliability of the excursion of the zone of apposition, (ZOA)
To measure the inter-rater (between two ultrasound scanners) reliability of the excursion of the zone of apposition, (ZOA) using a linear probe over the lateral chest wall, quantified by Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the intra-rater reliability of the excursion of the dome of the diaphragm (DOD)
To measure the intra-rater (between two measurements of the same scanner) reliability of the excursion of the DOD measured using a curvilinear probe via the subcostal abdominal window, quantified by ICCs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the inter-rater reliability of the excursion of the dome of the diaphragm (DOD)
To measure the inter-rater (between two ultrasound scanners) reliability of the excursion of the DOD measured using a curvilinear probe via the subcostal abdominal window, quantified by ICCs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure intra-rater reliability of the Thickening Fraction, (TF) of the ZOA
To measure intra-rater (between two measurements of the same scanner) reliability of the Thickening Fraction, TF of the ZOA measured using a linear probe over the lateral chest wall, quantified by ICCs.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure inter-rater reliability of the Thickening Fraction, (TF) of the ZOA
To measure inter-rater (between two ultrasound scanners) reliability of the Thickening Fraction, (TF) of the ZOA measured using a linear probe over the lateral chest wall, quantified by ICCs.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained for the ZOA method (Excursion of the ZOA)
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained for the ZOA method (Excursion of the ZOA) using F-tests for ICCs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained for the DOD method
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained using the DOD method (Excursion of the DOD) using F-tests for ICCs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained for the Thickening Fraction method (TF of the ZOA)
To measure the distribution of diaphragmatic measurements obtained for the Thickening fraction method (TF of the ZOA) using F-tests for ICCs
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years