Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of detecting the diaphragmatic motion in the healthy adults and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients by using M-mode ultrasound and to explore the correlation of the diaphragmatic motion and lung function and the value of using M type ultrasound in observing the diaphragmatic motion. Methods The study enrolled 43 COPD patients of whom 21 were male and 22 female in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from May 2011 to October 2011. This study also selected 43 healthy persons who were age, height and weight matched with the patients as the normal control group. M-mode ultrasonography was used to observe bilateral diaphragmatic moving range, time, acceleration in the COPD group and the normal control group. The pulmonary function tests including forced vital capacity(FVC), first second forced expiratory volume(FEV1) and their ratio FEV1/FVC were the main variables of observation. Results 1 For the normal control group, during quiet breathing the bilateral diaphragmatic moving range had no significant difference, while on deep inspiration the left diaphragmatic motion had a significantly larger magnitude as compared with the right side. 2 For COPD group and the normal control group, the lung function parameters, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC had a significant difference. 3 For COPD group and the normal control group, except the left acceleration time, the bilateral diaphragmatic muscle moving range, the right acceleration time, the bilateral acceleration had statistically significant differences during the quiet and deep breathing. 4 For COPD group and the normal control group, the diaphragmatic moving range had good correlation with FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. Conclusion The application of M-mode ultrasound can sensitively show diaphragmatic motion. The ultrasound observation was real-time, noninvasive and dynamic which may have potential value of clinical application.

Key words: diaphragmatic motion, lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)