Diaphragm Atrophy and Weakness in the Absence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Critically Ill

Critically ill patients have manifest diaphragm muscle fiber atrophy and weakness in the absence of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress do not play a causative role in the development of atrophy and contractile weakness of the diaphragm in critically ill patients.