Inter-Examiner and Intra-Examiner Reliability of Quantitative and Qualitative Ultrasonography Assessment of Peripheral and Respiratory Muscles in Critically Ill Patients

Felipe Douglas Silva Barbosa (), José Lucas Dos Santos, Maria Emilia Dantas Alves, Juliana de Ávila Barreto Alves, Telma Cristina Fontes Cerqueira and Valter Joviniano De Santana Filho
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Felipe Douglas Silva Barbosa: Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-100, Brazil
José Lucas Dos Santos: University Hospital of Lagarto, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Maria Emilia Dantas Alves: Multiprofessional Integrated Residency Program in Hospital Care, University Hospital of Lagarto, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Juliana de Ávila Barreto Alves: University Hospital of Lagarto, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Telma Cristina Fontes Cerqueira: Department of Physiotherapy of Lagarto, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto 49400-000, Brazil
Valter Joviniano De Santana Filho: Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-100, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: ICU patients are exposed to several factors that can lead to muscle structural and functional changes, and ultrasonography can identify them. Although several studies have analyzed the reliability of muscle ultrasonography assessment, a protocol with more muscle assessments becomes a challenge. The aim of this study was to analyze the inter and intra-examiner reliability of peripheral and respiratory muscle ultrasonography assessment in critically ill patients. The sample size was 10 individuals aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted to the ICU. Practical training of four health professionals from different backgrounds was performed. After training, each examiner acquired three images to assess the thickness and echogenicity of the muscle groups: biceps brachii, forearm flexor group, quadriceps femoris, tibialis anterior and diaphragm. For the reliability analysis, an intraclass correlation coefficient was performed. Six hundred US images were analyzed for muscle thickness and 150 for echogenicity. Excellent intra-examiner reliability for echogenicity (ICC: 0.867–0.973) and inter-examiner reliability for thickness were found in all muscle groups (ICC: 0.778–0.942). For muscle thickness intra-examiner reliability, excellent results were found (ICC: 0.798–0.988), with a “good” correlation in one diaphragm assessment (ICC: 0.718). Excellent inter- and intra-examiner reliability of the thickness assessment and intra-examiner echogenicity of all muscles analyzed were found.

Keywords: intensive care unit; ultrasonography; muscles; test reproducibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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