Diaphragm ultrasound as a predictor of successful extubation from mechanical ventilation

This study evaluated the use of ultrasound to assess diaphragm thickening, rather than diaphragm motion, to predict extubation success.  Measurements were made in 63 ventilated patients, end-expiration and end-inspiration differences in thickness during spontaneous breathing were calculated, and the outcome was extubation within 48 hr.  The ROC AUC was 0.79 for assessing weaning success (79% accuracy).