Ultrasound evaluation of diaphragmatic mobility in different postures in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE To assess, using ultrasound, the effects that changes in body position have on diaphragmatic mobility in healthy subjects during spontaneous breathing. METHODS The study involved seven healthy female volunteers, all of whom were nonsmokers, well nourished, and free of any cardiopulmonary disease. They were submitted to pulmonary function testing and ultrasound evaluation of the mobility of the right diaphragm by the craniocaudal displacement of the left branch of the portal vein using an ultrasound device in mode B. The mobility of the right diaphragm was evaluated in right decubitus and in left decubitus. The order of evaluation was previously determined in a random drawing. RESULTS The average mobility of the right diaphragm in right decubitus (51.30 +/- 9.69 mm) was significantly higher (p = 0.03) than that observed in left decubitus (45.93 +/- 10.37 mm). CONCLUSION The results suggest that, during spontaneous ventilation, the dependent portion of the diaphragm presents greater mobility than does the nondependent portion, and that the technique used was sufficiently sensitive to detect variations in diaphragmatic mobility related to changes in posture.