The Relation Between Quadriceps Muscle Layer Thickness and Nitrogen Balance for Nutrition Monitoring

With patient in supine position ultrasound will be performed using a 12MHZ Transducer connected to Sonosite M Turbo machine. The probe will be placed perpendicular to the long axis of the thigh on its anterior surface at the two thirds of the length between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper border of the patella. After identifying the muscle tissue, the thickness of the quadriceps muscle will be obtained by measuring the distance between the cortex of femur and the most superficial muscular fascia. Measurements will be performed by applying maximal compression on the probe without inflicting pain to prevent underestimation of muscle wasting linked to subcutaneous edema. measurements will be made on both sides repeatedly on ICU days 1, 3, 7, and 10. Every time three ultrasound measurements will be taken per site and the average of three measurements for each site will be used and combined to provide total muscle depth