Diaphragmatic Excursion on Ultrasound in the ICU
Diaphragmatic excursion refers to the measurement of diaphragmatic movement during the respiratory cycle using ultrasound. In critically ill patients, it is a bedside, non-invasive method to assess diaphragmatic function and to help predict weaning outcomes from mechanical ventilation.
Technique
Probe placement: A low-frequency (2–5 MHz) curvilinear or phased-array transducer is placed in the subcostal or intercostal region.
Window: The liver (right side) or spleen (left side) serves as an acoustic window.
Mode: M-mode is typically used to quantify movement. The ultrasound cursor is placed perpendicular to the diaphragm dome.
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