Incidence Of ICU-acquired Weakness Research Articles

Efficacy of the “Start to move” protocol on functionality, ICU-acquired weakness and delirium: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of the Start to move protocol compared to conventional treatment in subjects over 15 years of age hospitalized in the ICU on an improvement in functionality, decrease in ICU-acquired weakness (DAUCI), incidence of delirium, days of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay in ICU and mortality at 28 days. Designrandomized controlled clinical trial. SettingIntensive Care Unit. ParticipantsIncludes adults older than 15 years with invasive mechanical ventilation more than 48h, randomized allocation. InterventionsStart to move protocol and conventional treatment. Main variables of interestFunctionality, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness, incidence of delirium, days on mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and mortality-28 days, ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05053724. Results69 subjects were admitted to the study, 33 to the Start to move group and 36 to conventional treatment, clinically and sociodemographic comparable. In the “Start to move” group, the incidence of IUCD at ICU discharge was 35.7% vs. 80.7% in the “conventional treatment” group (p=0.001). Functionality (FSS-ICU) at ICU discharge corresponds to 26 vs. 17 points in favor of the “Start to move” group (p=0.001). The difference in Barthel at ICU discharge was 20% in favor of the “Start to move” group (p=0.006). There were no significant differences in the incidence of delirium, days of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and 28-day mortality. The study did not report adverse events or protocol suspension. ConclusionsThe application of the “Start to move” protocol in ICU showed a reduction in the incidence of IUAD, an increase in functionality and a smaller decrease in Barthel score at discharge.

Correlation Between Early Serum Myoglobin Levels and the Incidence and Prognosis of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW) in Septic Shock Patients: A Comparative Study.

Intensive Care Unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a common complication that significantly impedes patient recovery. In the study, we investigated the correlation between early serum myoglobin levels in patients with septic shock due to pneumonia, and the incidence of ICU-AW, duration of mechanical ventilation, and prognosis. Patients were classified based on the development of ICU-AW within the first 10 days of ICU admission. We measured serum myoglobin levels upon ICU entry, and analyzed demographic data, APACHE II scores, use of mechanical ventilation, and clinical outcomes, including mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation. The results indicated significantly elevated serum myoglobin levels in the ICU-AW group, correlated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and increased mortality. ROC analysis revealed myoglobin as a promising biomarker for predicting ICU-AW, with an area under the curve of 0.843 (95% CI: 0.819~0.867), demonstrating a sensitivity of 76.00% and specificity of 82.30%. These findings underscored serum myoglobin as a predictive biomarker for early ICU-AW in septic shock patients, highlighting its potential to guide clinical decision-making.

Effect of early systemic rehabilitation on muscle strength and prognosis of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit: a Meta-analysis

To systematically evaluate the effect of early systematic rehabilitation on muscle strength and prognosis of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU). Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP database (VIP) and Wanfang database were searched by computer for randomized controlled trial (RCT) on early systematic rehabilitation of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in ICU published from the establishment of the database to October 2022. The observation group was given early systematic rehabilitation, while the control group was given routine activities. The outcome indicators included Medical Research Council muscle strength score (MRC score), incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), 36-item short form health survey scale (SF-36), length of hospital stay, and hospital mortality. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the quality of the literature to conduct a Meta-analysis of the studies that met the quality criteria. Funnel plot was used to analyze the publication bias of each study. A total of 14 articles were enrolled, 13 in English and 1 in Chinese. A total of 1 835 patients were involved, including 922 cases in the observation group and 913 cases in the control group. The overall literature quality was good. Compared with the control group, the incidence of ICU-AW in the observation group was significantly reduced [relative risk (RR) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.62-0.98, P < 0.05], but the MRC score was not significantly increased [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 2.51, 95%CI was 0.77-4.25, P = 0.05]. There were no significant differences in ICU mortality (RR = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.59-1.87, P > 0.05), hospital mortality (RR = 1.15, 95%CI was 0.76-1.74, P > 0.05), length of ICU stay (WMD = -3.02, 95%CI was -7.29-1.24, P > 0.05), total length of hospital stay (WMD = -3.67, 95%CI was -8.04-0.70, P > 0.05), and physical component summary (PCS; WMD = 1.83, 95%CI was -0.28-3.93, P > 0.05) and mental component summary (MCS; WMD = 1.72, 95%CI was -0.76-4.20, P > 0.05) of SF-36 scale at 6 months after discharge between the two groups. It was shown by funnel plot that the publication bias of each literature was relatively small, manifested as the effect points included in the literature were basically in a "inverted funnel" shape and symmetrical, in terms of MRC score, incidence of ICU-AW, mortality, length of hospital stay and scores of SF-36 scale. Early systematic rehabilitation can significantly reduce the incidence of ICU-AW, without increasing the mortality, and has no significant improvement on muscle strength and physical function.

Association Between Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness and Early Nutrition and Rehabilitation Intensity in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Muscle weakness in the intensive care unit (ICU), referred to as ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), is a common complication observed in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to investigate whether rehabilitation intensity and nutrition during ICU admission are associated with the incidence of ICUAW. Consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to the ICU between April 2019 and March 2020 and who received mechanical ventilation for >48 h were eligible. The included patients were divided into two groups: the ICUAW group and the non-ICUAW group. ICUAW was designated by a Medical Research Council score of less than 48 during discharge from the ICU.Patient characteristics, time to achieve ICU mobility scale (IMS) 1 and IMS 3, calorie and protein deliveries, and blood creatinine and creatine kinase levels were evaluated as study data. In this study, the target dose for the first week after admission to the ICU at each hospital was set at 60-70% of the energy requirement calculated by the Harris-Benedict formula. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the odds ratios (OR) for each factor and to explain the risk factors for the occurrence of ICUAW at ICU discharge. During the study period, 206 patients were enrolled; 62 of the 143 included patients (43%) had ICUAW. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that low time to IMS 3 achievement (OR 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.42, p=0.033), and high mean calorie (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.93, p<0.001) and protein deliveries (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.13-0.56, p<0.001) were independently associated with the occurrence of ICUAW. Increase in rehabilitation intensity and mean calorie and protein deliveries were associated with a decrease in the occurrence of ICUAW at ICU discharge. Further research is required to validate our results.Our observations, increasing the intensity of physical rehabilitation and the average calorie and protein delivery levels during ICU stay, appear to be the preferred strategies for achieving non-ICUAW.

Intensive Care Unit- Acquired Weakness and Hospital Functional Mobility Outcomes Following Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with COVID-19: A Single-Centre Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Acute physical function outcomes in ICU survivors of COVID-19 pneumonia has received little attention. Critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection who require invasive mechanical ventilation may undergo greater exposure to some risk factors for ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW). Purpose: To determine incidence and factors associated with ICUAW at ICU discharge and gait dependence at hospital discharge in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: Single-centre, prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Madrid, Spain. We evaluated ICUAW with the Medical Research Council Summary Score (MRC-SS). Gait dependence was assessed with the Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU) walking subscale. Results: During the pandemic second wave, between 27 July and 15 December, 2020, 70 patients were enrolled. ICUAW incidence was 65.7% and 31.4% at ICU discharge and hospital discharge, respectively. Gait dependence at hospital discharge was observed in 66 (54.3%) patients, including 9 (37.5%) without weakness at ICU discharge. In univariate analysis, ICUAW was associated with the use of neuromuscular blockers (crude odds ratio [OR] 9.059; p = 0.01) and duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.201; p = 0.001), but not with the duration of neuromuscular blockade (OR 1.145, p = 0.052). There was no difference in corticosteroid use between patients with and without weakness. Associations with gait dependence were lower MRC-SS at ICU discharge (OR 0.943; p = 0.015), older age (OR 1.126; p = 0.001), greater Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.606; p = 0.011), longer duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.128; p = 0.001) and longer duration of neuromuscular blockade (OR 1.150; p = 0.029). Conclusions: In critically ill COVID-19 patients, the incidence of ICUAW and acute gait dependence were high. Our study identifies factors influencing both outcomes. Future studies should investigate optimal COVID-19 ARDS management and impact of dyspnea on acute functional outcomes of COVID-19 ICU survivors.

Systematic early versus late mobilization or standard early mobilization in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of systematic early mobilization in improving muscle strength and physical function in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients.MethodsWe conducted a two-stage systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library until January 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of early mobilization initiated within 7 days after ICU admission compared with late mobilization, standard early mobilization or no mobilization. Priority outcomes were Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS), incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), 6-min walk test (6MWT), proportion of patients reaching independence, time needed until walking, SF-36 Physical Function Domain Score (PFS) and SF-36 Physical Health Component Score (PCS). Meta-analysis was conducted where sufficient comparable evidence was available. We evaluated the certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach.ResultsWe identified 12 eligible RCTs contributing data from 1304 participants. Two RCTs were categorized as comparing systematic early with late mobilization, nine with standard early mobilization and one with no mobilization. We found evidence for a benefit of systematic early mobilization compared to late mobilization for SF-36 PFS (MD 12.3; 95% CI 3.9–20.8) and PCS (MD 3.4; 95% CI 0.01–6.8), as well as on the proportion of patients reaching independence and the time needed to walking, but not for incidence of ICUAW (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.38–1.03) or MRC-SS. For systematic early compared to standard early mobilization, we found no statistically significant benefit on MRC-SS (MD 5.8; 95% CI − 1.4 to 13.0), incidence of ICUAW (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.63–1.27), SF-36 PFS (MD 8.1; 95% CI − 15.3 to 31.4) or PCS (MD − 2.4; 95% CI − 6.1 to 1.3) or other priority outcomes except for change in 6MWT from baseline. Generally, effects appeared stronger for systematic early compared to late mobilization than to standard early mobilization. We judged the certainty of evidence for all outcomes as very low to low.ConclusionThe evidence regarding a benefit of systematic early mobilization remained inconclusive. However, our findings indicate that the larger the difference in the timing between the intervention and the comparator, the more likely an RCT is to find a benefit for early mobilization.Study Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42019122555).

Intensive care unit acquired muscle weakness in COVID-19 patients

Dear Editor, Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may lead to hypoxemic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is frequently complicated by intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) [1], which is associated with poor outcomes [2]. Critically ill patients affected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may differ from typical ARDS-patients in baseline factors [3] and ICU exposures associated with ICUAW [4]. Of particular concern may be the need for deep sedation to avoid patient-ventilator dyssynchrony and ventilator-induced/self-inflicted lung-injury because of high respiratory drive [5]. We aimed to assess the incidence of ICUAW in critically ill COVID-19 patients, to identify factors associated with its occurrence, and to describe its short-term outcomes. This single-center, retrospective, observational study involved adult critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the University Hospitals Leuven, from March 13th until June 8th 2020. After April 1st, physiotherapists were re-engaged in patient care and performed daily strength-assessment when appropriate. Records of eligible patients were searched for baseline characteristics, ICU exposures and outcomes. The primary outcome was the incidence of ICUAW, assessed with the MRC-sum score [2], at awakening, at ICU and hospital discharge in patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). In addition, we evaluated factors and short-term outcomes associated with weakness at ICU discharge. To assess bias, we compared characteristics and outcomes for patients with and without MRC-sum score, and studied patients without IMV. Of 486 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 114 required intensive care of whom 74 (64.9%) needed IMV (Supplemental Fig. 1). Admission and ICU characteristics are provided in the Online Supplement. Total hospital mortality was 60/486 (12.3%), ICU mortality was 11/114 (9.6%). All deaths occurred in IMV patients [11/74 (14.9%)]. In 50/74 (67.6%) assessed IMV patients, the incidences of ICUAW at awakening, ICU, and hospital discharge were 72%, 52% and 27% (Fig. 1). Those without MRC-sum-score were older as compared to those with MRC-sum-score [67 (60–76) versus 60 (53–67), p = 0.044] and comprised nine patients who died before awakening, possibly introducing selection bias. Admission characteristics were similar between patients with and without ICUAW, but weak patients had prolonged ventilation (days) [24 (15–29) versus 12 (8–17), p < 0.001], higher mean morning glycemia (mg/dl) [126 (119–134) versus 118 (110–129), p = 0.041], and more frequently received dialysis [11/26 (42.3%) versus 4/24 (16.7%), p = 0.048]. Exposure to corticosteroids, sedatives and analgesics, except for dexmedetomidine, and NMBAs was higher (see Online Supplement). Weak patients had longer ICU stays (days) [30 (19–42) versus 19 (12–25), p = 0.008], lower mobility scores at ICU discharge [2 (2–2) versus 6 (4–6), p < 0.001], but ICU readmission [0/26 (0%) versus 2/24 (8.3%), p = 0.225] and mortality [2/26 (7.7%) versus 0/24 (0%), p = 0.491] were not different. Handgrip-strength (%pred) [43% (28–59%) versus 64% (36–80%), p = 0.045], and Barthel at hospital discharge [8 (2.5–11.5) versus 10.5 (8–18), p = 0.040], remained lower in weak patients (Fig. 1). 15/26 (57.7%) weak versus 6/24 (25%) not-weak patients were referred for in-patient rehabilitation. In 6/40 (15%) assessed non-IMV patients, one patient was weak at ICU discharge and none at hospital discharge (see Online Supplement). Fig. 1 Strength and functional outcomes in COVID-19 patients, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, with and without weakness at ICU discharge. Panel A incidence of ICUAW at awakening, ICU discharge and hospital discharge. Panel B MRC-sum-score at awakening, ICU discharge and hospital discharge. Panel C ICU mobility score at ICU discharge. Panel D Barthel score at hospital discharge. MRC Medical Research Council, ICUAW intensive care unit acquired weakness, ICU intensive care unit, HOS hospitalization In conclusion, in this cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients, survival was high, but those needing prolonged sedation frequently presented with ICUAW. Although strength improved throughout hospitalization, impact on functional status remained substantial. These data indicate that there may be a price to pay for allowing rigorous lung-protective ventilation and underscore the need for follow-up of post-ICU COVID-19 patients, to offer tailored rehabilitation, hopefully reducing long-term impact. Electronic supplementary material Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material. Supplementary file1 (DOCX 18 kb) Supplementary file2 (DOCX 764 kb)

Progressive active mobilization with dose control and training load in critically ill patients (PROMOB): Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

The dose of progressive active mobilization is still uncertain. The purpose of this study is to identify if the addition of a protocol of progressive active mobilization with dose and training load control to usual care is effective in reducing the length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and the improvement of the functioning, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), mechanical ventilation duration and mortality rate in patients hospitalized in ICU. It is Double-blind randomised clinical trial. The setting for this trial will be medical and surgical ICU of a university hospital. The study participants will be 118 patients aged> 18 years admitted to ICU for less than 72 hours. Participants will be randomized to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group will undertake addition of a protocol of progressive active mobilization with dose and training load control to usual care, while the control group will undertake only usual care. The primary outcome will be length of ICU stay. The secondary outcomes will be Cross-sectional area and muscle thickness of the rectus femoris and biceps brachii, Change in muscle strength from the baseline, Functional Status, incidence of ICUAW, Days with mechanical ventilation and Mortality. All statistical analyses will be conducted following intention-to-treat principles. It has a detailed description of the dose of exercise, was designed with the strictest methodological criteria. These characteristics allow to investigate with greater certainty the results progressive active mobilization in critical patients, allowing replication and future combinations in meta-analyzes.

Incidence, Time Course and Influence on Quality of Life of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness Symptoms in Long-Term Intensive Care Survivors.

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) can manifest as muscle weakness or neuropathy-like symptoms, with diagnosis remaining a challenge. Uncertainties surround the long-term cause and sequelae. Therefore, the purpose was to assess incidence, time course and long-term influence on quality of life (QoL) of symptoms in ICU survivors. After ethical approval and registration (www.drks.de: DRKS00011593), in a single-center cohort study all patients admitted to the ICU in 2007-2017 in a German university hospital were screened. Out of 1,860 patients (≥7d ICU care including ventilation support for ≥72 h, at least 6mo-10y after ICU) 636 were deceased, 912 survivors were contacted. 149 former patients (age: 63.5 ± 13.1y; males: 73%; duration in ICU: 20.8 ± 15.7d; duration of ventilation: 16.5 ± 13.7 h; time post-ICU: 4.4 ± 2.7y, 5-10y: 43%) consented to be interviewed concerning occurrence, duration, recovery and consequences of ICUAW-associated muscle weakness or neuropathy-like symptoms after ICU. In 75% at least 1 persistent or previous symmetrical symptom was reported (myopathy-like muscle weakness: 43%; neuropathy-like symptoms: 13%; both: 44%) and rated as incidence of ICUAW. However, only 18% of participants had received an ICUAW diagnosis by their physicians, although 62% had persistent symptoms up to 10y after ICU (5-10y: 46%). Only 37% of participants reported a complete recovery of symptoms, significantly associated with an initially low number of symptoms after ICU (p < 0.0001), myopathy-like symptoms (p = 0.024), and younger age at the time of ICU admission (55.7 ± 13.1 vs. 62.6 ± 10.6y, p < 0.001). ICUAW still impaired the QoL at the time of the interview in 74% of affected survivors, with 30% reporting severe impairment. ICUAW symptoms were disturbingly common in the majority of long-term survivors, indicating that symptoms persist up to 10y and frequently impair QoL. However, only a small number of patients had been diagnosed with ICUAW. Trial registry: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS), https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00011593, registration number: DRKS00011593.

Urinary Titin Is a Novel Biomarker for Muscle Atrophy in Nonsurgical Critically Ill Patients: A Two-Center, Prospective Observational Study

Although skeletal muscle atrophy is common in critically ill patients, biomarkers associated with muscle atrophy have not been identified reliably. Titin is a spring-like protein found in muscles and has become a measurable biomarker for muscle breakdown. We hypothesized that urinary titin is useful for monitoring muscle atrophy in critically ill patients. Therefore, we investigated urinary titin level and its association with muscle atrophy in critically ill patients. Two-center, prospective observational study. Mixed medical/surgical ICU in Japan. Nonsurgical adult patients who were expected to remain in ICU for greater than 5 days. None. Urine samples were collected on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 of ICU admission. To assess muscle atrophy, rectus femoris cross-sectional area and diaphragm thickness were measured with ultrasound on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Secondary outcomes included its relationship with ICU-acquired weakness, ICU Mobility Scale, and ICU mortality. Fifty-six patients and 232 urinary titin measurements were included. Urinary titin (normal range: 1-3 pmol/mg creatinine) was 27.9 (16.8-59.6), 47.6 (23.5-82.4), 46.6 (24.4-97.6), 38.4 (23.6-83.0), and 49.3 (27.4-92.6) pmol/mg creatinine on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, respectively. Cumulative urinary titin level was significantly associated with rectus femoris muscle atrophy on days 3-7 (p ≤ 0.03), although urinary titin level was not associated with change in diaphragm thickness (p = 0.31-0.45). Furthermore, cumulative urinary titin level was associated with occurrence of ICU-acquired weakness (p = 0.01) and ICU mortality (p = 0.02) but not with ICU Mobility Scale (p = 0.18). In nonsurgical critically ill patients, urinary titin level increased 10-30 times compared with the normal level. The increased urinary titin level was associated with lower limb muscle atrophy, occurrence of ICU-acquired weakness, and ICU mortality.

Determinants of gait independence after mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: a Japanese multicenter retrospective exploratory cohort study

PurposeGait independence is one of the most important factors related to returning home from the hospital for patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the factors affecting gait independence have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting gait independence at hospital discharge using a standardized early mobilization protocol that was shared by participating hospitals.Materials and methodsPatients who entered the ICU from January 2017 to March 2018 were screened. The exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation < 48 hours, age < 18, loss of gait independence before hospitalization, being treated for neurological issues, unrecoverable disease, unavailability of continuous data, and death during ICU stay. Basic attributes, such as age, ICU length of stay, information on early mobilization while in the ICU, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum-score at ICU discharge, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and delirium, and the degree of gait independence at hospital discharge, were collected. Gait independence was determined using a mobility scale of the Barthel Index, and the factors that impaired gait independence at hospital discharge were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.ResultsOne hundred thirty-two patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, age, APACHE II score, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, incidence of delirium, and MRC sum-score at ICU discharge were extracted as significant. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.014), MRC sum-score < 48 (p = 0.021), and delirium at discharge from ICU (p < 0.0001) were extracted as significant variables.ConclusionsWe found that age and incidence of ICU-AW and delirium were significantly related to impaired gait independence at hospital discharge.

Meta-analysis of the intervention effects of early ambulation on acquired weakness in intensive care unit patients with mechanical ventilation

Objective To systematic analyze the intervention effects of early ambulation on ICU acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in ICU patients. Methods The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang database were searched via computer for randomized controlled trials on early ambulation to prevent ICU-AW in ICU patients from the data base establishment date to February 10th, 2019.After screening literature, extracting data and evaluating the quality of literature, Meta-analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 software. Results Finally, 11 randomized controlled trials were included. Meta-analysis results showed that the incidence of ICU-AW was RR=0.52, 95%CI was (0.41, 0.66) ; muscle strength (MRC-score) WMD=8.08, 95%CI was (6.27, 9.81) ; Barthel index WMD=18.24, 95%CI was (7.27, 29.2) ; mechanical ventilation time was WMD=-1.29, 95%CI was (-1.96, -0.61) ; ICU hospitalization time was MD=-1.81, 95%CI was (-2.78, -0.84) ; total hospitalization time WMD=-3.39, 95%CI (-5.91, -0.88) . Conclusions Based on the present evidence, early ambulation can reduce the incidence of ICU-AW, improve the activity of daily life ability of patients, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU and hospital, which is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Intensive care unit; Respiration, artificial; Early ambulation; Early exercise; ICU acquired weakness; ICU acquired muscle weakness

Application of bed-mounted bicycle combined with passive joint movement of the upper extremities in patients with acute respiratory failure undergoing mechanical ventilation

Objective To explore the effect of bed-mounted bicycle combined with passive joint movement of upper extremities in patients with acute respiratory failure undergoing mechanical ventilation. Methods Totally 94 patients with acute respiratory failure undergoing mechanical ventilation from intensive care unit (ICU) in Hwa Mei Hospital were selected by convenient sampling and randomly divided into the intervention group and the control group from April 2017 to January 2018. The control group received routine intensive care and activity intervention. On this basis, the intervention group received lower extremities bed-mounted bicycles combined with the upper extremities passive joint movement. The intervention effect of the two groups were compared. At last, a total of 90 patients completed the study, with 44 in intervention group and 46 in control group. Results Mechanical ventilation duration, ICU stay time, and incidence of ICU acquired weakness (ICU-AW) were less in the intervention group than in the control group (P<0.05) . At the seventh day of taking activity intervention, the tidal volume of intervention group was higher than control group (P<0.05) ; the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and respiratory rate of intervention group were lower than control group (P<0.05) . When transferred out of ICU, the Barthel Index scores were higher in intervention group (P<0.05) . In addition, there was no serious adverse effect in both groups. Conclusions Bed-mounted bicycle combined with passive joint movement of upper extremities in patients with acute respiratory failure undergoing mechanical ventilation was safe and feasible. It can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay time, and the incidence of ICU-AW, as well as improve patients' self-care ability. Key words: Respiration, artificial; Respiratory insufficiency; Rehabilitation nursing; Bed-mounted bicycle; Passive joint movement of the upper extremities

Effect of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on prevention of intensive care unit-acquired weakness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with mechanical ventilation

To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on prevention of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with mechanical ventilation. A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Sixty COPD patients aged 18-85 years old who were accepted mechanical ventilation therapy admitted to general intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Medicine from October 2017 to October 2018 were enrolled. Patients were divided into control group (n = 30) and intervention group (n = 30) by random number table method. All patients were accepted routine treatment, and on this basis, the intervention group was applied transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the extremities (twice a day, 30 minutes each time) after 24 hours of admission until ICU discharge. The Medical Research Council muscle strength score (MRC-Score), grip strength, incidence of ICU-AW on the 7th day after admission and on the day of ICU discharge; modified Barthel index score on the day of ICU discharge; and duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of ICU stay, and the length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Twenty-nine and 27 patients in the control group and the intervention group respectively finally completed the study in dividually. There was no significant difference in gender, age, Barthel index score before 2 weeks of ICU admission, body mass index or acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) in ICU between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the MRC-Score, grip strength or incidence of ICU-AW on the 7th day after ICU admission between the two groups. Compared to the control group, the MRC-Score, grip strength and Barthel index score in the intervention group were significantly increased [MRC-Score: 55.97±8.43 vs. 46.32±7.36, grip strength (kg): 33.46±11.62 vs. 27.42±9.64, Barthel index score: 46.04±5.46 vs. 42.13±3.32, all P < 0.05], the incidence rate of ICU-AW was significantly decreased [7.4% (2/27) vs. 31.0% (9/29), P < 0.05], and duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of ICU stay, the length of hospital stay were significantly shortened [duration of mechanical ventilation (days): 5.12±2.01 vs. 7.24±4.35, the length of ICU stay (days): 8.34±2.36 vs. 10.45±2.62, the length of hospital stay (days): 13.21±2.21 vs. 15.38±3.67, all P < 0.05]. Transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation can effectively improve the muscle strength of COPD patients with mechanical ventilation and reduce the incidence of ICU-AW.

Effect of early mobilization on the physical function of patients in intensive care unit: a Meta-analysis

To systematically evaluate the effect of early mobilization on the physical function of patients in intensive care unit (ICU). The randomized controlled trials (RCT) about early intervention in ICU patients were retrieved from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Wed of Science, Medline, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang database, all of which were published literatures from the establishment to October 2018. Early activities were carried out in the intervention group, while only routine nursing was carried out in the control group. Outcome measures included the medical research council score (MRC-Score), physical function ICU test (PFIT), independent walking ability, score of quality of life health survey short form (SF-36), incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and hospital mortality. Two researchers independently screened the literature, evaluated the quality of the literature and extracted the data. After literature selection, literature quality evaluation and date extraction was performed, and RevMan 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis. The publication bias was analyzed by funnel plot. A total of 13 literatures were included, 10 in English and 3 in Chinese; of the 1 347 patients, 695 in intervention group and 652 in control group. Compared with the control group, the MRC-Score was increased in intervention group [mean difference (MD) = 4.74, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 2.30-7.19, P = 0.000 1], independent walking ability was improved [odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95%CI = 1.39-2.99, P = 0.000 3], the incidence of ICU-AW was decreased (OR = 0.22, 95%CI = 0.14-0.35, P < 0.000 01), and there was no significant difference in PFIT (MD = -0.19, 95%CI = -0.69-0.31, P = 0.46), physical health (PCS) after 6 months (MD = -1.39, 95%CI = -4.18-1.39, P = 0.33) and inpatient mortality (OR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.53-1.12, P = 0.17) between two groups. It was shown by funnel plot that the publication bias of each literature was relatively small in terms of MRC-Score, PFIT, independent walking ability and SF-36. Early mobilization are beneficial for the physical function recovery of ICU patients, which can improve the muscle strength, improve the ability of patients to walk independently, reduce the occurrence of ICU-AW, and do not increase the mortality rate in hospital.

Effects of Early Enteral Nutrition on Immune Function and Prognosis of Patients With Sepsis on Mechanical Ventilation.

To explore the therapeutic effects of early enteral nutrition (EEN) on patients with sepsis on mechanical ventilation. Patients with sepsis on mechanical ventilation in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2013 to March 2016 were treated with enteral nutrition. Patients treated within 48 hours of initiation of mechanical ventilation were assigned to the EEN group, and the rest were assigned to the delayed enteral nutrition (DEN) group. Peripheral blood Th17 cells and Treg cells, endotoxin (ET) level, 28-day mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) were analyzed between the 2 groups. The proportion of Th17 cells and ET levels in the EEN group were significantly lower than those in the DEN group, whereas the proportion of Treg cells in the EEN group was remarkably higher than that in the DEN group (P < .05). The duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and incidence of ICU-AW were higher in the DEN group than in the EEN group (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality between the 2 groups. Patients with sepsis mainly present with an increased proportion of Th17 cells in the early stage, manifesting as enhanced immune response. Early enteral nutrition can inhibit the excessive immune response, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay, and reduce the incidence of ICU-AW, but it has no obvious effect on 28-day mortality.

Impact of Vasoactive Medications on ICU-Acquired Weakness in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Vasoactive medications are commonly used in the treatment of critically ill patients, but their impact on the development of ICU-acquired weakness is not well described. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vasoactive medication use and the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. This is a secondary analysis of mechanically ventilated patients (N= 172) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early occupational and physical therapy vsconventional therapy, which evaluated the end point of ICU-acquired weakness on hospital discharge. Patients underwent bedside muscle strength testing by a therapist blinded to study allocation to evaluate for ICU-acquired weakness. The effects of vasoactive medication use on the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness in this population were assessed. On logistic regression analysis, the use of vasoactive medications increased the odds of developing ICU-acquired weakness (odds ratio [OR], 3.2; P= .01) independent of all other established risk factors for weakness. Duration of vasoactive medication use (in days) (OR, 1.35; P= .004) and cumulative norepinephrine dose (μg/kg/d) (OR, 1.01; P= .02) (but not vasopressin or phenylephrine) were also independently associated with the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. In mechanically ventilated patients enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early mobilization, the use of vasoactive medications was independently associated with the development of ICU-acquired weakness. Prospective trials to further evaluate this relationship are merited. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01777035; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Critical Care Cycling Study (CYCLIST) trial protocol: a randomised controlled trial of usual care plus additional in-bed cycling sessions versus usual care in the critically ill

IntroductionIn-bed cycling with patients with critical illness has been shown to be safe and feasible, and improves physical function outcomes at hospital discharge. The effects of early in-bed cycling on...