scholarly journals Volitional assessment of respiratory muscle strength

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.W. Fitting

Respiratory muscle weakness may induce dyspnoea, secretion retention and respiratory failure. Assessing respiratory muscle strength is mandatory in neuromuscular diseases and in case of unexplained dyspnoea. A step by step approach is recommended, starting with simple volitional tests. Using spirometry, respiratory muscle weakness may be suspected on the basis of an abnormal flowvolume loop or a fall of supine vital capacity. When normal, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures against a near complete occlusion exclude significant muscle weakness, but low values are more difficult to interpret. Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure is a useful alternative because it is easy and it eliminates the problem of air leaks around the mouthpiece in patients with neuromuscular disorders. The strength available for coughing is easily assessed by measuring peak cough flow. In most cases, these simple non invasive tests are sufficient to confirm or to eliminate significant respiratory muscle weakness and help the timely introduction of ventilatory support or assisted cough techniques. In a minority of patients, a more complete evaluation is necessary using non volitional tests like cervical magnetic stimulation of phrenic nerves.

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tatsuma Okazaki ◽  
Yoshimi Suzukamo ◽  
Midori Miyatake ◽  
Riyo Komatsu ◽  
Masahiro Yaekashiwa ◽  
...  

Introduction: The respiratory muscle strength regulates the effectiveness of coughing, which clears the airways and protects people from pneumonia. Sarcopenia is an aging-related loss of muscle mass and function, the worsening of which is associated with malnutrition. The loss of respiratory and swallowing muscle strength occurs with aging, but its effect on pneumonia is unclear. This study aimed to determine the risks of respiratory muscle weakness on the onset and relapse of pneumonia in older people in conjunction with other muscle-related factors such as malnutrition. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study with 47 pneumonia inpatients and 35 non-pneumonia controls aged 70 years and older. We evaluated the strength of respiratory and swallowing muscles, muscle mass, and malnutrition (assessed by serum albumin levels and somatic fat) during admission and confirmed pneumonia relapse within 6 months. The maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures determined the respiratory muscle strength. Swallowing muscle strength was evaluated by tongue pressure. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to evaluate the muscle and fat mass. Results: The respiratory muscle strength, body trunk muscle mass, serum albumin level, somatic fat mass, and tongue pressure were significantly lower in pneumonia patients than in controls. Risk factors for the onset of pneumonia were low inspiratory respiratory muscle strength (odds ratio [OR], 6.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56–30.11), low body trunk muscle mass divided by height2 (OR, 6.86; 95% CI, 1.49–31.65), and low serum albumin level (OR, 5.46; 95% CI, 1.51–19.79). For the relapse of pneumonia, low somatic fat mass divided by height2 was a risk factor (OR, 20.10; 95% CI, 2.10–192.42). Discussion/Conclusions: Respiratory muscle weakness, lower body trunk muscle mass, and malnutrition were risk factors for the onset of pneumonia in older people. For the relapse of pneumonia, malnutrition was a risk factor.


Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross Pollock ◽  
Ged Rafferty ◽  
John Moxham ◽  
Lalit Kalra

Background: Increased frequency of chest infections in acute stroke patients may be the result of respiratory muscle weakness contributing to a weak cough and poor airway clearance. We undertook a systematic review of studies comparing respiratory muscle strength in acute stroke patients with age-matched controls. Method: A systematic review of literature was performed using the electronic databases Medline, EMBASE, ISI web of knowledge and the Scopus. The key words searched were stroke or cerebrovascular accident in combination with cough, inspiratory, expiratory or respiratory and strength or weakness. Studies were included if they compared stroke patients with age matched controls and measured maximum inspiratory or expiratory mouth pressure (PImax and PEmax) for inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength respectively. Results: The initial search identified 136 articles, 14 of which remained after screening for pre-defined inclusion criteria and removal of duplicates. Eleven were excluded after reviewing abstracts (5 did not assess muscle strength, 5 did not include healthy control group, 1 absolute values could not be obtained). A further study was identified from the reference lists of screened articles. The 4 studies that met inclusion criteria included 121 subjects. Mean PImax ranged from 75-99 cmH 2 O in controls and 37-74 cmH 2 O in stroke patients. (mean difference 41 cmH 2 O, 95% CI 54 to 29 cm H 2 O; P<0.0001). Mean PEmax ranged from 52-89 cm H 2 O in stroke patients and was also reduced compared with age matched controls (mean difference 55 cmH 2 O, 95% CI 61 to 48 cmH 2 O; P<0.0001). ( Fig 1 ). Conclusion: Individual studies and pooled data suggest that respiratory muscle strength is impaired in acute stroke patients. However, these studies are limited by small samples and design heterogeneity. Larger studies are needed to assess the relationship of respiratory muscle weakness with chest infections and clinical outcomes in the acute phase.


2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyun Park ◽  
Seong-Woong Kang ◽  
Sang Chul Lee ◽  
Won Ah Choi ◽  
Dong Hyun Kim

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baykal Tulek ◽  
Fikret Kanat ◽  
Sule Tol ◽  
Mecit Suerdem

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is a procedure accepted to be safe in general, with low complication rates reported. On the other hand, it is known that patients with pre-existing respiratory failure have developed hypoventilation following FB. In this study the effects of FB on respiratory muscle strength were investigated by measuring maximum respiratory pressures. Methods: One hundred and forty patients, aged between 25 and 90 years, who had undergone diagnostic bronchoscopy between February 2012 and May 2012, were recruited to the study. Pre- and post-procedure maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. A correlation between the MIP and MEP changes and patient characteristics and FB variables were investigated. Results: Significant decreases in both MIP and MEP values were observed following FB (p < 0.001 for both). Decreases were attributed to the midazolam used for sedation. Significant decreases in respiratory muscle strengths were observed especially in the high-dose midazolam group, compared to both low-dose and non-midazolam groups. Conclusions: It was determined that respiratory muscle weakness may arise post-procedure in patients who have undergone FB, and this is constitutively related to midazolam premedication. Respiratory muscle weakness might play a role in potential hypoventilation in critical patients who undergo FB.


Introduction 238 Assessment 239 Treatment 240 A variety of neuromuscular disorders may affect the ventilatory pump at different sites (Table 37.1). Most of these disorders result in respiratory muscle weakness, which results in alveolar hypoventilation and impaired cough. Patients with known neuromuscular disease may present acutely with a presentation related to their underlying neuromuscular disease (such as infection) or occasionally in end-stage ventilatory failure....


Author(s):  
Gerrard Rafferty ◽  
John Moxham

Skeletal muscle weakness affecting the respiratory and peripheral muscles is common in critically ill patients and can lead to difficulties in weaning, prolonged ICU admission, and significant morbidity in survivors. A number of techniques can be used to assess muscle strength. In the peripheral muscles, volitional techniques employing scoring systems or portable hand dynamometers are relatively simple and quick to use, requiring little or no specialist equipment. Such techniques can, however, only be applied to conscious and cooperative patients, preventing assessment of muscle weakness in many ICU patients. The volitional requirement also limits the ability to distinguish poor motivation and impaired cognition from true loss of muscle function. Non-volitional techniques involving motor nerve stimulation provide measures of muscle force production in non-cooperative patients but require specialist equipment. Normative data for comparative purposes are limited. Also, it is not clear which peripheral muscle best reflects generalized muscle weakness. Measurements of maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures are widely used to assess respiratory muscle strength in ICU patients and are applicable to patients who can make some respiratory effort. As with all tests requiring patient cooperation, reliability is limited. Phrenic nerve stimulation allows direct, non-volitional assessment of diaphragm and phrenic nerve function, and normative values for comparative purposes are available. Magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation is well tolerated, can be performed in the presence of vascular catheters, and is used to document respiratory muscle weakness and track progression in critically ill patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clément Medrinal ◽  
Guillaume Prieur ◽  
Tristan Bonnevie ◽  
Francis-Edouard Gravier ◽  
Denys Mayard ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated muscle strength in COVID-19 ICU survivors. We aimed to report the incidence of limb and respiratory muscle weakness in COVID-19 ICU survivors. Method We performed a cross sectional study in two ICU tertiary Hospital Settings. COVID-19 ICU survivors were screened and respiratory and limb muscle strength were measured at the time of extubation. An ICU mobility scale was performed at ICU discharge and walking capacity was self-evaluated by patients 30 days after weaning from mechanical ventilation. Results Twenty-three patients were included. Sixteen (69%) had limb muscle weakness and 6 (26%) had overlap limb and respiratory muscle weakness. Amount of physiotherapy was not associated with muscle strength. 44% of patients with limb weakness were unable to walk 100 m 30 days after weaning. Conclusion The large majority of COVID-19 ICU survivors developed ICU acquired limb muscle weakness. 44% of patients with limb weakness still had severely limited function one-month post weaning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A30-A30
Author(s):  
A Cruickshank ◽  
D Curtin

Abstract Introduction In motor neuron disease (MND), non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients who develop respiratory muscle weakness improves both quality of life and survival. This study aimed to evaluate the current practice and outcomes of NIV use in MND patients in an Australian tertiary hospital. Methods The medical records of all MND patients who attended a specialist multidisciplinary clinic requiring NIV treatment between January 2015 and January 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Progress to date: Forty-five patients have been analysed with a mean age at time of NIV commencement of 61±10(SD) years, 67% were male, 33% were current or past smokers and 7% had OSA with previous CPAP use. MND onset was limb in 58%, bulbar in 36% and respiratory muscle in 7%. Riluzole was prescribed in 47% and PEG/RIG insertion performed in 47%. At time of NIV commencement, 82% were symptomatic and 47% hypercapnic. No patient was commenced based on functional testing alone. NIV adherence (usage ≥4hours/night) was observed in 80%. NIV non-adherence was associated with bulbar subtype (p=0.02) and empirical NIV initiation (p&lt;0.01) on univariate analysis. Average survival from NIV commencement was 17±22(SD)months. Average survival on NIV in adherent patients was 19±24(SD)months and non-adherent patients was 2±2(SD)months, although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.1). Intended outcome & impact Overall clinical practice and outcomes of NIV use in this study is comparable to literature. The factors influencing NIV tolerance and adherence require further study to optimise outcomes in MND patients with respiratory muscle weakness.


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