Acute Effects of Sitting Out of Bed and Exercise on Lung Aeration and Oxygenation in Critically Ill Subjects.

Background: Early mobilization during critical illness is safe and has beneficial effects on functional outcomes. However, its impact on pulmonary function has not been thoroughly explored. We hypothesized that a sitting position out of bed coupled with exercise could result in an improvement in oxygenation and lung aeration.

Impact of Very Early Physical Therapy During Septic Shock on Skeletal Muscle: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: As the catabolic state induced by septic shock together with the physical inactivity of patients lead to the rapid loss of muscle mass and impaired function, the purpose of this study was to test whether an early physical therapy during the onset of septic shock regulates catabolic signals and preserves skeletal muscle mass.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Tertiary mixed ICU.

Incentive spirometry and positive expiratory pressure improve ventilation and recruitment in postoperative recovery: A randomized crossover study.

: Impairment of global and regional pulmonary ventilations is a well-known consequence of general anesthesia. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) or incentive spirometry (IS) is commonly prescribed, albeit their efficacy is poorly demonstrated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of PEP and IS on lung ventilation and recruitment in patients after surgery involving anesthesia using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

Teamwork enables high level of early mobilization in critically ill patients.

Background: Early mobilization in critically ill patients has been shown to prevent bed-rest-associated morbidity. Reported reasons for not mobilizing patients, thereby excluding or delaying such intervention, are diverse and comprise safety considerations for high-risk critically ill patients with multiple organ support systems. This study sought to demonstrate that early mobilization performed within the first 24 h of ICU admission proves to be feasible and well tolerated in the vast majority of critically ill patients.

Energy expenditure in the critically ill performing early physical therapy.

Purpose: Resting energy expenditure (REE) determination is of high relevance to avoid both overfeeding and underfeeding. We conducted an observational study to determine the impact of early exercise on energy requirements to adjust caloric intake accordingly in critically ill patients.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in an intensive care unit in 49 hemodynamically stable critically ill patients and 15 healthy volunteers.