Member May 2025: Breathtaking Advances: Utility of Ultrasound in SCI Ventilator Management (On Demand)-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video covers a Member May session by AAPMNR focusing on the use of ultrasound for evaluating diaphragmatic function in spinal cord injuries (SCI), especially in ventilator management. The panel, including experts from various medical fields, discusses the advantages of using diaphragm ultrasound over traditional nerve conduction studies and needle EMG, highlighting its non-invasive nature, high specificity, and usefulness in real-time monitoring. The session reports on a study demonstrating that ultrasound is a strong predictor of ventilator weaning potential. The video outlines the significance of early diagnosis and intervention for SCI patients to facilitate timely rehabilitation and improve outcomes by potentially allowing them direct access to rehab centers without the need for LTACs. Research findings suggest that using ultrasound can accelerate weaning from ventilators, although overall numbers didn’t change significantly. This methodology can also assess diaphragm function over time, offering a practical tool in outpatient settings to monitor respiratory function longitudinally. The session underscores the collaborative effort for implementing these protocols and invites further studies to explore other applications such as in ALS or brain injury cases. Panelists encourage audience engagement and offer to address further inquiries via email.

Keywords

ultrasound

diaphragmatic function

spinal cord injuries

ventilator management

real-time monitoring

rehabilitation

weaning potential

respiratory function

collaborative effort