Role of ultrasound in predicting weaning failure in children undergoing cardiac surgery: Prospective observational study

ABSTRACT Background: Increased extravascular lung water (EVLW) induced by systemic inflammatory response under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and diaphragmatic dysfunction due to phrenic nerve injury during cardiac surgery leads to weaning failure from mechanical ventilation (MV) in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that ultrasound measurement of EVLW shown by B-lines and diaphragm function in the form of thickening and excursion will be able to predict weaning failure defined as reintubation within 48 hours of endotracheal extubation in such patients. Methods: Fifty patients aged (1 month to 18 years) undergoing congenital cardiac surgeries were enrolled in the study. The ultrasound measurement of B-line of lung, diaphragm excursion (DE) and diaphragm thickness (DT) were done preoperatively, on pressure support ventilation (PSV) during weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) and 4 hours after extubation. Results: 7 out of 50 patients had weaning failure. The patients with weaning failure (group 1, n=7) were younger, with median age of 1 year (0.25-7) compared to those who tolerated weaning (group 2, n=43), median age of 3 years (0.25-17), p=0.040. The B-line score in group 1 increased from a preoperative score of 0 to post-extubation period score of 2, the score being significantly higher than the patients of group 2 (p=0.024). The left diaphragm thickening fraction of <17.15% predicted weaning failure with a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 51.4%, (AUC ROC 0.75, p= 0.032). Conclusion: LUS cannot predict weaning failure. The diaphragmatic thickening fraction <17.15% was found to be a predictor of weaning failure in our patients.