Mobility Checklist for Patients With Advanced Heart Failure and a Femoral Intra-aortic Balloon Pump

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Literature about early mobilization of patients with femoral intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) is emerging. The purpose of our study is to describe the development and implementation of a mobility checklist for patients with advanced heart failure (HF) who had a femoral IABP and assess its safety and feasibility. Case Description: A description of the development and implementation of our institution's IABP Mobility Checklist is provided. A retrospective review was conducted for patients with advanced HF who had a femoral IABP to assess safety and feasibility of mobilization. Subjects' demographic, medical, and physical therapy data, as well as safety data, were analyzed. Outcomes: The IABP Mobility Checklist was designed to mirror our institution's practice patterns. It is unique in 2 ways. First, it uses a body systems review screening approach to assess a patient's readiness and tolerance to mobilization. Second, the checklist breaks the screening process into 4 broad but distinct mobility phases to encompass a spectrum of movement. Twenty subjects with advanced HF who had a femoral IABP received 49 physical therapy sessions. The highest level of mobility with a femoral IABP was ambulation (50%). There were no major safety events and 2 minor safety events. Subjects stabilized with termination of mobilization. No additional medical interventions were required. Discussion and Conclusion: The IABP Mobility Checklist was developed and successfully implemented in patients with advanced HF who had a femoral IABP. Through knowledge acquisition, education, and interprofessional collaboration, mobilization in this patient population was safe and feasible.