Correlation Between Muscle Strength and Thickness in Critically Ill Patients

February 28, 2024 updated by: Veronica Rossi, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Correlation Between Muscle Strength and Thickness in Critically Ill Patients: an Observational Prospective Study

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is associated with adverse outcomes in ventilated patients, and impact of MV-induced diaphragm changes are still unclear.

The objective of this prospective observational study is to assess muscle thickness and strength, specifically in limb muscles such as the quadriceps, among critically ill patients who undergo extended mechanical ventilation during their Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay.

The primary inquiries this study seeks to address are:

  • Is there an association between muscle thickness and strength in the limbs of critically ill patients undergoing prolonged MV?
  • How much thickness and strength variation can be expected in respiratory and limb muscles in critically ill patients undergoing prolonged MV?

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The methodology for measuring the thickness of the diaphragm and quadriceps involves the use of bedside ultrasound. In terms of diaphragmatic assessment, to ensure consistency over multiple timepoints, the areas of the lower limbs evaluated (Quadriceps thickness, Qthick and Cross section area, CSA) will be marked on the skin using a dermatographic pen during the peripheral assessments.

Muscle strength in the limbs will be assessed utilizing the Medical Research Council (MRC) Score, specifically in patients who are awake and cooperative (RASS 0 +/- 1). Additionally, a dynamometer will be employed for the precise measurement of quadriceps strength, serving as the gold standard.

The timeline for data collection during the observational period is structured as follows:

T1: 48-72 hours from the start of invasive MV after intubation T2: At the initial trial in pressure support mode. T3: Immediately prior to extubation. T4: Before discharge from the Intensive Care Unit.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who are expected to need mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours following ARDS.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years;
  • Intubated patients on mechanical ventilation presumably for 48 hours;
  • Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication (absolute or relative) to assessment: acute bleeding, multiple fractures or trauma, spinal instability;
  • Hemodynamic instability during assessment;
  • ICU admission due to thoracic surgery, including lung transplant patients;
  • History of preexisting neuromuscular diseases;
  • History of preexisting functional impairment;
  • Pheripheral Neural disease;
  • Cervical spine injury;

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation between quadriceps strength and thickness
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Degree of correlation between quadriceps strength, measured via handheld dynamometer (strength in Newton), and thickness, measured using ultrasound (thickness in cm).
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quadriceps strength
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Mean difference of quadriceps strength along ICU stay period
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Quadriceps thickness
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Mean difference of quadriceps thickness along ICU stay period
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Diaphragm thickness
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Mean difference of diaphragm thickness along ICU stay period
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Diaphragm strength
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Mean difference of diaphragm thickness along ICU stay period
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Time to reach the sitting position
Time Frame: The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)
Mean difference of number of days required to reach the sitting position
The assessment will be perform at 48-72 hours from start of invasive MV after intubation, at the initial trail in pressure support mode, at immediately prior to extubation and at discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (assessed up to 5 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Veronica Rossi, MSc, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 6, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 30, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 4, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2024

First Posted (Estimated)

March 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

March 1, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2024

Last Verified

February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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