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How the diaphragm works in respiratory disease

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Basics of Respiratory Mechanics and Artificial Ventilation

Part of the book series: Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care ((TIACC))

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Abstract

The strength of the diaphragm may be reduced by a wide range of primary neurological or muscular diseases and, more subtly, by endocrine or metabolic disorders including many acute abnormalities that may develop in critically ill patients. In respiratory disease, the major problem is usually not loss of strength but impairment of mechanical action of the diaphragm. The commonest cause of impaired diaphragm function is the symmetrical hyperinflation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute, severe asthma. Diaphragmlung coupling is also impaired by deformity of the chest wall (i.e., kyphoscoliosis, thoracoplasty) or pleural disease (i.e., pneumothorax, pleural effusion, fibrosis). Of course with advanced chronic respiratory disease, true weakness and loss of muscle strength may develop due to cachexia, metabolic abnormalities [1] or glucocorticosteroid treatment [2].

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Authors
  1. N. B. Pride
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    J. Milic-Emili MD

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Italy

    U. Lucangelo MD

  3. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, New S. Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    A. Pesenti MD

  4. Department of Biophysic “Carlos Chagas Filho” Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    W. A. Zin MD

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Italia, Milano

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Pride, N.B. (1999). How the diaphragm works in respiratory disease. In: Milic-Emili, J., Lucangelo, U., Pesenti, A., Zin, W.A. (eds) Basics of Respiratory Mechanics and Artificial Ventilation. Topics in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2273-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2273-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0046-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2273-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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