Rapid Shallow Breathing Index Method in Practice

A recent study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of ultrasound-based diaphragmatic excursion (DE) and rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) in weaning ICU patients from mechanical ventilation. A year cohort study that involved 90 ICU patients aged between 19 and 83 years who were ventilated mechanically during two days demonstrated the effectiveness of DE. The effectiveness of DE and RSBI was assessed by the area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) diagnostics that implied the focus on specificity, CI, and sensitivity. The error confidence interval margin of 5% and 95%, as well as prevalence 67%, was employed. The effectiveness of DE and RSBI was similar (0.795 and 0.815 95% CI, respectively). In terms of the sensitivity level, DE was more effective, while RSBI was more effective regarding the specificity level. Both practices showed similar results as approximately 60/90 patients were weaned successfully. In my clinical practice, I have witnessed the effectiveness of the RSBI method, so I will utilize this tool until sound evidence of its inefficiency appears.