Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill patients by assessment with peak torque evoked: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Early intervention used in the intensive care unit, through neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), presents benefit to critically ill patients, minimizing the deleterious effects of long-term immobilization. Objectives: To assess an NMES protocol with the conventional treatment for peripheral muscles through of the peak torque evoked analysis quadriceps femoris in critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: Experimental study, double-blind, held at the Base Hospital of the Federal District. Fifty-six critically ill patients with TBI admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were randomized to the NMES group (which received daily sessions of NMES) and the control group (conventional treatment). Muscle strength was measured by PT evoked by NMES through load ballot coupled to table adapted from Bonnet. Results: Twenty-four patients were considered for analysis NMES group (n = 10) (age 32 ± 8.9) and control group (n = 14) (age 32.5 ± 9.6). Regarding the PT evoked by NMES, the absolute average values were 22.2 ± 7.1 KgF for the intervention group and 14 ± 7.2 KgF for the control group, p Conclusion: The daily sessions of ENEM applied for 50 minutes, from the first day of hospitalization in patients with TBI was able to provide a decrease in the loss of peripheral muscle strength of quadriceps.