Effects of the use neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the lower extremities in the prehabilitation of patients in a before cardiac surgery

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases Aim To evaluate the effects of neuromuscular electrostimulation in the prehabilitation and prevention of muscle weakness in patients awaiting cardiac surgery. Materials and methods 122 patients waiting for elective cardiac surgery were included. Exclusion criteria: age less than 25 and more than 80 years; emergency and urgent surgical interventions; arthropathies; low pain threshold; rhabdomyolysis and other myopathies; cognitive dysfunction. Routine laboratory and instrumental examinations were performed in all patients upon admission to the hospital, as part of a standard examination. 62 patients were randomly selected for the preoperative NMES group, in addition to the standard preoperative preparation and treatment program. The standard program included 60 control patients. Patients of the NMES group underwent quadriceps stimulation for at least 5 sessions, lasting 90 minutes, daily before surgery. Results. The groups were comparable and did not have significant differences in gender and age characteristics, according to the main clinical and anamnestic data and types of operations. Initially, there were no differences in the state of the muscles of the lower extremities, the distance of the six-minute walking test (6MWT), and the strength of the hand grip. After NMES, there was an increase in muscle strength relative to the control group, both stimulated muscle groups and unstimulated antagonist muscles, as well as a greater 6MWT distance and hand compression force. All the differences were significant. Conclusions The course of pre-rehabilitation of NMES before surgery, allowed to maintain, and in some cases improve the condition of the muscle frame of the lower extremities. A positive effect was observed not only in stimulated muscle groups, but also in antagonist muscles Indicators of muscle status NMES (n = 62) Control group (n = 60) Baseline Discharge Baseline Discharge P-level Right knee extensors strength (kg) 24,4 [18,3; 31,4] 30,4 [23,8; 36,2]* 24,7 [20,1; 33,2] 22,25 [18,9; 30,4] <0,001 Left knee extensors strength (kg) 23,8 [19,3; 31,3] 29,2 [23,6; 35,4]* 25,75 [19,2; 31,3] 22,9 [18,9; 27,8] <0,001 Right knee flexors strength (kg) 18,9 [13,3; 24,0] 21,7 [16,6; 25,1] 19,55 [13,1; 26,0] 16,7 [12,1; 23,3] 0,006 Left knee flexors strength (kg) 19,3 [14,3; 24,5] 21,9 [17,3; 26,7] 19,5 [13,0; 24,3] 18,2 [13,4; 22,2] 0,005 6-MWT (m) 300,0 [261,0; 371,0] 331,0 [280,0; 375,0] 304,5 [253,0; 380,0] 285,5 [246,0; 342,0] 0,006 Right handgrip strength (kg) 28,5 [20,5; 34,0] 31,5 [22,0; 34,0] 29,0 [19,0; 34,0] 27,0 [19,0; 33,0] 0,054 Left handgrip strength (kg) 25,0 [18,0; 31,0] 25,0 [18,0; 32,0] 24,0 [15,0; 31,0] 22,0 [14,0; 28,0] 0,062 * - p-level from baseline data < 0,05 Abstract Figure. dynamics of stimulated muscles