Mobility Levels With Physical Rehabilitation Delivered During and After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Marker of Illness Severity or an Indication of Recovery?

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine whether physical rehabilitation intervention for individuals who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with clinical outcomes and to assess whether the patient mobility response over initial rehabilitation sessions early in the intensive care unit (ICU) course predicts or is associated with survival, lengths of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day readmissions.

Methods: This study was a 10-year retrospective practice analysis of adults who were critically ill and required ECMO for >72 hours in the cardiothoracic ICU at an academic medical center. Physical rehabilitation implemented during or following the initiation of ECMO was quantified on the basis of timing, frequency, and change in mobility level in response to the intervention over the first 4 consecutive sessions.

Physical Function Measured Prior to Lung Transplantation Is Associated With Posttransplant Patient Outcomes.

Introduction: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether pretransplant physical function is correlated with posttransplantation outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients that participated in pretransplantation screening and subsequently underwent lung transplantation. Pretransplant variables of interest included demographics, muscle mass, body composition, physical function, and physical frailty.

Timing and Amount of Physical Therapy Treatment are Associated with Length of Stay in the Cardiothoracic ICU.

Significant variability exists in physical therapy early mobilization practice. The frequency of physical therapy or early mobilization of patients in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit and its effect on length of stay has not been investigated. The goal of our research was to examine variables that influence physical therapy evaluation and treatment in the intensive care unit using a retrospective chart review.