@article {Kim1485, author = {Won-Young Kim and Chae-Man Lim}, title = {Ventilator-Induced Diaphragmatic Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Role of Pharmacological Agents}, volume = {62}, number = {11}, pages = {1485--1491}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.4187/respcare.05622}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {The use of controlled mechanical ventilation results in a major reduction of diaphragmatic contractile force together with atrophy of diaphragm muscle fibers, which is a condition known as ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction. Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction is one of the major contributors to weaning difficulties and even increased mortality. This review summarizes the current data on the pathogenesis and diagnosis of ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction, and it outlines the use of ultrasonography for diaphragm evaluation. In addition, current pharmacologic agents used to mitigate ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction are described, with a particular emphasis on the therapeutic potential of theophylline in patients with ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction-associated weaning difficulties.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/62/11/1485}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/62/11/1485.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }