Diastolic dYsfunctioN AssessMent in critICally Ill Patients

"All the intensivists performing the TTE in the involved centers fulfill the criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography and of the European Society of Intensive Care.~Medicine to be considered as experts in critical care echocardiography. Each center performs the TTE evaluation by means of the ultrasound device available in the unit equipped with the tissue Doppler imaging program and a phased array transducer of 2.5 MHz and doppler signals is recorded along with the electrocardiogram.~For the purpose of this study, the following TTE parameters are recorded from the apical 4-chamber view during each set of measurements:"

The Spontaneous Breathing Trial will be performed accordingly to the clinical practice of the involved centers (a total support - including positive end-expiratory pressure plus pressure support equal or lower to 8 cmH20)

Echocardiography performed within 24h from patient's admission - not optional

Echocardiography performed within 12h from patient's spontaneous breathing trial - not optional

Echocardiography performed at 60 +/- 12h from patient's admission - optional

Echocardiography performed 24h after patient's estubation - optional