Muscle wasting in intensive care patients: ultrasound observation of the M. quadriceps femoris muscle layer

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 185 - 189
• Main Authors: Gruther, Wolfgang, Benesch, Thomas, Zorn, Carina, Paternostro-Sluga, Tatjana, Quittan, Michael, Fialka-Moser, Veronika, Spiss, Christian, Kainberger, Franz, Crevenna, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.03.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Length of Stay; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Quadriceps Muscle - diagnostic imaging; Quadriceps Muscle - pathology; Ultrasonography; Wasting Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Wasting Syndrome - pathology
• ISSN: 1650-1977; 0001-5555
• DOI: 10.2340/16501977-0139

Patients in intensive care exhibit a high degree of loss of muscle mass. Appropriate instruments are needed to document muscle wasting in these patients. The aim of this pilot study was to describe muscle wasting in patients in the intensive care unit. Two-fold study setting: prospective longitudinal and cross-sectional single-blind. A total of 118 patients in the intensive care unit (length of stay 1-98 days; male:female ratio 88:30; age 55 +/- 17 years) were included in a two-fold study setting. Muscle layer thickness of the M. quadriceps femoris was documented using ultrasound measurement at well-defined points. Seventeen pilot-patients were measured twice; at baseline and after 28 days. In another group of 101 patients, muscle layer thickness was determined once after a random length of stay. The results of both groups were compared and correlated. In both groups, M. quadriceps femoris thickness showed a significant negative correlation with length of stay in the intensive care unit (p < 0.01). Furthermore, muscle wasting in intensive care patients could be described using a logarithmic function. Loss of muscle mass shows a negative correlation with length of stay, and seems to be higher during the first 2-3 weeks of immobilization/intensive care unit stay. Ultrasound is a valid and practical measurement tool for documenting muscle mass (e.g. muscle layer thickness) as part of the daily routine at an intensive care unit.