Role of ultrasonography in assessing respiratory muscle loss: insights from a cross-sectional study on neurological patients with long-term bed rest with and without tracheostomy

In comparison to the diaphragm, the ICM provide a more comprehensive understanding of pulmonary function in patients undergoing extended bed rest, irrespective of the presence of a tracheotomy. Notably, the thickness of the second ICM and the grayscale of the fifth ICM are indicative of dyspnea scores, while the grayscale of the second ICM correlates with scores related to activities of daily living. These indices exhibit differential correlations in patients with and without a tracheotomy. It is imperative that these factors be assessed and compared in clinical practice.