What Is the Interest in Measuring the Cough and Peripheral Force when Withdrawing Ventilation?

Abstract

The prognosis of critically ill patients has changed considerably in recent years. Admission to the intensive care unit is nevertheless a source of complications that can result in difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation. Peripheral neuromuscular impairments and respiratory muscle weakness are among these complications. Although these events are common and known to have adverse effects in the more or less long term, their evaluation is complex and continues to generate debate. Assessing them in the most objective possible manner is a crucial prerequisite to develop an effective therapeutic strategy. The objective of this review is to describe the specific available methods for assessing cough ability and peripheral muscle strength, and to discuss published data on the use of these methods during weaning from mechanical ventilation.