Ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic dysfunction and its improvement with levosimendan in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease


Submitted: 9 February 2023
Accepted: 27 February 2023
Published: 28 March 2023
Abstract Views: 536
PDF: 203
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Authors

Diaphragmatic Dysfunction (DD) is a clinical condition in which the diaphragm becomes weak or paralyzed, because of muscle strength reduction. It can be due to muscular issues or loss of proper innervation, but, also, to pulmonary hyperinflation or air trapping, such as in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). DD impacts on COPD induced dyspnea, determining its progressive worsening, but levosimendan, an inodilator better known as Ca2+ sensitizer, may limit this phenomenon and diaphragmatic ultrasound assessment can be useful in monitoring its effect. Here, we show the case of a 77-year-old woman admitted to the Emergency department for acute exacerbation of chronic dyspnea in COPD, related to right ventricular failure and DD, which did not respond to medical therapy and non-invasive mechanical ventilation but did experience a favorable outcome after intravenous administration of levosimendan.


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De Rosa, C. A., Cristiano, G., & Guarino, M. (2023). Ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic dysfunction and its improvement with levosimendan in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Emergency Care Journal, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2023.11248

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