What Can We Learn From Monitoring Diaphragm Activity in Infants?*

Editor’s Choice Articles for March

“…Regarding bronchiolitis respiratory support, by way of recalling what was published in 2023, we had a systematic review and network meta-analyses on HFNO and other NIV therapies in bronchiolitis (17); two quality improvement studies of “protocolized NIV” in bronchiolitis (18–20); and a multicenter, retrospective study of variations in early PICU management during IMV (21, 22). Regarding diaphragmatic electrophysiology, in 2021 PCCM had a descriptive study of transcutaneous electromyography (23, 24), and in 2023 there was a retrospective report about the range in Edi measurements in the PICU population (25, 26) from the current researchers in Canada (3). Add to all this material the editorial that accompanies the new report (4).…”

Editor’s Choice Articles for June

“…Over the last 5 years PCCM has published seven research articles and six editorials/commentaries about the diaphragm. A recent focus is the use of transcutaneous electrophysiologic monitoring of diaphragm activity (15, 16). We now have a detailed study that describes age-specific, population normal values for elevated diaphragmatic tonic electrical activity (Edi).…”

Editor’s Choice Articles for November

“…My third highlighted article is a report of 147 infants receiving mechanical ventilation for longer than 24 hours, who have undergone transcutaneous dEMG around the time of extubation (i.e., 15 min before and up to 180 min after). Our editorialists, who are also accomplished researchers in this field, provide a useful clinical framework for assessing respiratory effort and give us the context for future research in dEMG (6).…”

“…15 min before and up to 180 min after). Our editorialists, who are also accomplished researchers in this field, provide a useful clinical framework for assessing respiratory effort and give us the context for future research in dEMG (6).…”