Time course analysis of mechanical ventilation‐induced diaphragm contractile muscle dysfunction in the rat

Key points Weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) of long‐term intensive care unit (ICU) patients is delayed by impaired respiratory muscle function; however, the mechanisms that cause the impairment are not fully understood. A novel experimental rat ICU model was used for time‐resolved analyses (6 h to 2 weeks) of the effects of MV on diaphragm muscle fibre structure and function, and on gene and protein expression. A prompt and progressive decline of diaphragm muscle fibre function, preceding atrophy, occurred with MV, and at the end of 2 weeks residual diaphragm muscle fibre function was