Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2023 , Vol 69 , Num 2

Pulmonary rehabilitation in the intensive care unit using surface electromyography in a patient with diaphragmatic injury: A case report

Ho Jeong Shin 1-2 ,Myung Hun Jang 3 ,Myung Jun Shin 3 ,Jun Woo Lee 4
1 Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Catholic University of Pusan, Republic of Korea
3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
4 Research and Development Department, Sante, Busan, Republic of Korea
DOI : 10.5606/tftrd.2023.8751 Diaphragmatic injury (DI) following blunt trauma can cause pulmonary complications and increased duration of ventilator-dependent intensive care unit stay. Herein, we present a 62-year-old female patient with severe trauma who was diagnosed with liver laceration and multiple rib fractures and underwent emergency laparotomy. Extubation was attempted; however, the patient had to be reintubated due to dyspnea. After reintubation, decreased right diaphragmatic excursion was confirmed by ultrasonography and the patient was diagnosed with DI. Surface electromyographic biofeedback was performed during diaphragmatic breathing training to increase the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation. Early diagnosis of DI may be possible using ultrasonography, and the use of surface electromyographic biofeedback is suggested for pulmonary rehabilitation in critically ill trauma patients. Keywords : Electromyography, intensive care unit, multiple trauma, physical therapy modalities, rehabilitation, respiratory therapy