Mechanical ventilation is a life-support intervention for patients who cannot breathe on their own. However, prolonged use can weaken not only the diaphragm (the main breathing muscle) but also other breathing muscles, potentially leading to complications during and after hospitalization. This study aims to understand how changes in these extra-diaphragmatic breathing muscles affect short-term recovery in the hospital and long-term health outcomes after discharge.

We will start with a small pilot study to make sure our research plan works well in real-life hospital settings. This will help us see if we can recruit enough patients, collect the needed information and perform the tests consistently. The pilot study will also help us check if we have the right number of participants planned for the full study.

We will enroll adult patients expected to need mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours at St. Boniface Hospital. Throughout hospitalization, participants will undergo weekly, non-invasive assessments, including ultrasound imaging of their breathing muscles, respiratory function tests and clinical evaluations. After discharge, follow-ups within one month, six months and one year will assess their physical health, breathing ability and overall quality of life.

This research may help guide treatment strategies to prevent breathing muscle weakness and improve post-hospital recovery. Ultimately, this could lead to better rehabilitation programs, enhancing quality of life and reducing the burden of critical illness on patients, families and healthcare systems in Manitoba and beyond.