Ultrasound Assessment of Rectus Femoris Cross-sectionnal Area Following Lung Transplantation

In France, the profile of patients receiving lung transplants has changed in recent years, mainly due to the advent of treatment for cystic fibrosis. This progress has led to an evolution in the patient profile, with an increase in cases of pulmonary fibrosis or COPD, and an increase in the average age of patients. In these older patients, sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass, is a major concern, as it exacerbates morbidity and mortality.

After transplantation, patients are at risk of developing neuromyopathy due to their hospitalization in intensive care. There is currently no effective preventive treatment for this condition, underlining the need for early rehabilitation strategies. The combination of sarcopenia and neuromyopathy diminishes their functional capabilities on discharge from the ICU.

Muscle ultrasound, a simple, non-invasive technique, is already used to assess muscle function in intensive care patients. This study aims to evaluate the use of ultrasound to measure muscle loss in lung transplant patients, in particular by examining the rectus femoris muscle. Objectives include observing variations in the surface area of the rectus femoris muscle before and after transplantation, identifying factors influencing this variation, and exploring its relationship with post-transplant morbidity.

In summary, this study seeks to better understand muscle loss in lung transplant patients using ultrasound, in order to identify risk factors and guide the development of post-transplant rehabilitation strategies.