RIGHT HEMIDIAPHRAGM MOVEMENT STUDIED BY T M-MODE ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND PNEUMOTACHOGRAPHY IN NORMAL AND ASTHMATIC-PATIENTS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

The purpose of this study was to assess the diaphragmatic excursion us ing the TM-mode ultrasonography with concomitant pneumotachography in eight normal and five asthmatic subjects before and after salbutamol. We report the results in normal and asthmatic patients of this procedu re. Particular findings were demonstrated in asthma. Different signifi cant correlations were found between sonographic and respiratory measu rements. In view of the safety of this direct and real-time diaphragma tic investigation, we conclude that this new method could offer an eff ective and reliable procedure in the evaluation of patients with diaph ragmatic dysfunction. However, our study was limited by the small numb er of patients included and definite conclusions should await further investigations.