Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36333695›Full record

Observational studyBMC pulmonary medicine2022

Increased diaphragm echodensity correlates with postoperative pulmonary complications in patients after major abdominal surgery: a prospective observational study.

Xin Fu, Zhen Wang, Luping Wang, Guangxuan Lv, Yisong Cheng, Bo Wang, Zhongwei Zhang, Xiaodong Jin, Yan Kang, Yongfang Zhou and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC pulmonary medicine, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Ultrasound innovations in diaphragm assessment: an integrative review of expanding clinical applications.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Xin Fu *Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Zhen Wang *Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Luping WangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Guangxuan LvDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yisong ChengDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Bo WangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Zhongwei ZhangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xiaodong JinDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yan KangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yongfang ZhouDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zyfmg@163.com.
Qin WuDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Qinwu0221@gmail.com.
West China Hospital of Sichuan University · CNSichuan University · CN

Funding

1.3.5 project for disciplines of excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University ZYGD18020Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau 2021-YF05-00071-SNNational Key Research and Development Program of China 2020AAA0105005National Natural Science Foundation of China 81901998Project of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in West China Hospital HX2019nCoV027Project of Sichuan Science and Technology 2019YFS0234Sichuan Health Commission Research Project 19PJ237
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAssociated with increased morbidity and mortality, postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) often occur after major abdominal surgery. Diaphragmatic dysfunction is suggested to play an important role in the development of PPCs and diaphragm echodensity can be used as an indicator of diaphragm function. This study aimed to determine whether diaphragm echodensity could predict the occurrence of PPCs in patients after major abdominal surgery.

methodsDiaphragm ultrasound images of patients after major abdominal surgery were collected during spontaneous breathing trials. Echodensity was quantified based on the right-skewed distribution of grayscale values (50th percentile, ED50; 85th percentile, ED85; mean, EDmean). Intra- and inter-analyzer measurement reproducibility was determined. Outcomes including occurrence of PPCs, reintubation rate, duration of ventilation, and length of ICU stay were recorded.

resultsDiaphragm echodensity was measured serially in 117 patients. Patients who developed PPCs exhibited a higher ED50 (35.00 vs. 26.00, p < 0.001), higher ED85 (64.00 vs. 55.00, p < 0.001) and higher EDmean (39.32 vs. 33.98, p < 0.001). In ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve of ED50 for predicting PPCs was 0.611. The optimal ED50 cutoff value for predicting the occurrence of PPCs was 36. According to this optimal ED50 cutoff value, patients were further divided into a high-risk group (ED50 > 36, n = 35) and low-risk group (ED50 ≤ 36, n = 82). Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group had a higher incidence of PPCs (unadjusted p = 0.003; multivariate-adjusted p < 0.001).

conclusionDiaphragm echodensity can be feasibly and reproducibly measured in mechanically ventilated patients. The increase in diaphragm echodensity during spontaneous breathing trials was related to an increased risk of PPCs in patients after major abdominal surgery.

Indexed as

AbdomenDiaphragmHumansPostoperative ComplicationsPostoperative PeriodReproducibility of ResultsDiaphragm echodensityIntensive careMajor abdominal surgeryMechanical ventilationPostoperative pulmonary complicationsUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID36333695
PMCPMC9636692
OpenAlexW4308211753

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.