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Annals of Intensive Care

Table 3 Ultrasound thickness measurements of the abdominal expiratory muscles

From: The impact of critical illness on the expiratory muscles and the diaphragm assessed by ultrasound in mechanical ventilated children

 

Baseline measurement (n = 34)

Last measurement (n = 34)

P Value

Total expiratory abdominal muscles (OE + OI + TA) (mm)

4.2 (3.6–5.3)

4.1 (3.5–5.3)

0.019

m. Obliquus externa (mm)

0.9 (0.8–1.1)

1.0 (0.8–1.1)

0.748

m. Obliquus interna (mm)

1.3 (0.9–1.8)

1.2 (1.0–1.7)

0.032

m. Transversus abdominis (mm)

1.2 (0.9–1.6)

1.2 (0.9–1.5)

0.067

m. Rectus abdominis (mm)

1.9 (1.5–2.3)

2.2 (1.8–2.7)

0.007

  1. Results are presented as median (IQR)
  2. Thickness of the total expiratory muscles includes the sum of the thickness of the OE, OI and TA. The last measurement was defined as the final measurement ≤ day 4 of mechanical ventilation
  3. IQR, interquartile range; OE, obliquus externa; OI, obliquus interna; TA, transversus abdominis
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