Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with early rehabilitation therapy on mechanically ventilated patients: a prospective randomized controlled study, BMC Pulmonary Medicine

September 20,2024

Background This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) blended with early rehabilitation on the diaphragm and skeletal muscle in sufferers on mechanical ventilation (MV). Method This is a prospective randomized controlled study. Eighty patients on MV for respiratory failure were divided into a study group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases) randomly. The study group adopted a treatment method of NMES combined with early rehabilitation and the control group adopted the method of early rehabilitation only. The diaphragmatic excursion (DE), diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF), variation of thickness of intercostal muscles (TIM), variation of thickness of rectus abdominis (TRA), and variation of the cross-sectional area of rectus femoris (CSA-RF) were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effect by ultrasound before and after intervention at the first day of MV, the 3rd and 7th day of intervention and the day discharged from ICU. Results No significant difference was found in the general demographic information and ultrasound indicators between the two groups before treatment (all P > 0.05). After treatment, the variation of DTF (0.15 ± 0.05% vs. 0.12 ± 0.04%, P = 0.034) was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group on the day discharged from ICU. The variation of TRA (0.05 ± 0.09% vs. 0.10 ± 0.11%, P = 0.029) and variation of CSA-RF (0.13 ± 0.07% vs. 0.19 ± 0.08%, P < 0.001) in the study group were significantly lower than that in the control group. The duration of MV in the study group was significantly shorter than that in the control group [109.5 (88.0, 213.0) hours vs. 189.5 (131.5, 343.5) hours, P = 0.023]. The study group had better muscle strength score than the control group at discharge (52.20 ± 11.70 vs. 44.10 ± 15.70, P = 0.011). Conclusion NMES combined with early rehabilitation therapy is beneficial in reducing muscle atrophy and improving muscle strength in mechanically ventilated patients. This treatment approach may provide a new option for patients to choose a rehabilitation program; however, more research is needed to fully evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment option.

Nutrients, Free Full-Text

The Effect of Mobilization at 6 Months after Critical Illness — Meta-Analysis

Prevention of Muscle Atrophy in ICU, PDF, Intensive Care Unit

Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on functional exercise capacity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial - Telma Cristina Fontes Cerqueira, Manoel Luiz de Cerqueira Neto, Lucas de Assis Pereira

Pulmonary rehabilitation and physical interventions

Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on the Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

PDF) Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation of the Quadriceps and Diaphragm in Critically Ill Patients: A Pilot Study

Frontiers The effects of early mobilization in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients: systematic review and meta-analysis

(PDF) Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation of the Quadriceps and Diaphragm in Critically Ill Patients: A Pilot Study

KCJ :: Korean Circulation Journal

Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on the Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the recovery of people with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit: A narrative review - HTML

Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Subjects Undergoing Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation