Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2016 | Review
Strategies to optimize respiratory muscle function in ICU patients
Authors:
Willem-Jan M. Schellekens, Hieronymus W. H. van Hees, Jonne Doorduin, Lisanne H. Roesthuis, Gert Jan Scheffer, Johannes G. van der Hoeven, Leo M. A. Heunks
Published in:
Critical Care
|
Issue 1/2016
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Abstract
Respiratory muscle dysfunction may develop rapidly in critically ill ventilated patients and is associated with increased morbidity, length of intensive care unit stay, costs, and mortality. This review briefly discusses the pathophysiology of respiratory muscle dysfunction in intensive care unit patients and then focuses on strategies that prevent the development of muscle weakness or, if weakness has developed, how respiratory muscle function may be improved. We propose a simple strategy for how these can be implemented in clinical care.