Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Diaphragm weakness induced by prolonged mechanical ventilation may contribute to difficult weaning from the ventilator. Hypercapnia is an accepted side effect of low tidal volume mechanical ventilation, but the effects of hypercapnia on respiratory muscle function are largely unknown. The present study investigated the effect of hypercapnia on ventilator-induced diaphragm inflammation, atrophy and function. ⋯ Hypercapnia partly protects the diaphragm against adverse effects of mechanical ventilation.