Introduction and

Background: During COVID-19 outbreak approximately 5% of patients were admitted in ICU with ARDS Some of them developed persistent atelectasis Rehabilitation plays a role in promoting pulmonary recruitment after weaning from mechanical ventilation EzPAP is a simple device used to apply a positive airway pressure during spontaneous breath Bedside ultrasonography of diaphragmatic amplitude during contraction could be used to evaluate the efficacy of respiratory rehabilitation Aim of the study: Evaluation of the efficacy of EzPAP recruitment maneuver with the use of diaphragmatic ultrasound

Methods: 16 patients discharged from ICU after weaning from mechanical ventilation have been subjected to EzPAP recruitment maneuvers (PEEP: 10 cmH2O, air or Oxygen flow: 8L/min for 10 minutes twice a day) We detected SpO2/FiO2 and we measured the maximal amplitude of diaphragmatic inspiratory excursion with transthoracic ultrasonography at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation cycle

Results: The maximal amplitude of diaphragmatic inspiratory excursion and SpO2/FiO2 were significantly higher at the end of the rehabilitation cycle with EzPAP

Conclusions: EzPAP is a valide thecnique and ultrasonography is a simple diagnostic method to evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation treatment