Ultrasound may offer new way to measure breathing drive in ICU

This study tests whether ultrasound images of the diaphragm can reliably estimate a patient's breathing drive, which is normally measured by a ventilator. The standard test (P0.1) works well for intubated patients but not for those on non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen. Researchers will compare ultrasound measurements with the standard test in 40 intubated adults during a spontaneous breathing trial. If successful, this could provide a non-invasive way to monitor breathing effort in a wider range of ICU patients.