Effects of early mobilization (EM) in patients with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU): a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Early mobilization (EM) may be an effective intervention for the promotion of rehabilitation in noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EM in patients with NIPPV in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group involving active and passive activities combined with routine treatments and the control group with routine treatments in this single-center, parallel-designed randomized controlled trial. Participants accepted initiative and passive activities following brought by medical and nursing team who were standardized training The primary outcomes were the incidence of ICU-AW, length of ICU stay, duration of ventilation and mortality. Results There were no adverse event in participants during EM. Compared with the control group, there was a significantly lower length of ICU stay (m = 6.0 vs 7.8 days, respectively, P = 0.038), incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (n = 17.4% vs 50%, respectively, P = 0.026), duration of ventilation (m = 2.1 vs 4.0 days, respectively, P = 0.019) in the intervention group. Conclusions EM is feasible and safe in noninvasive ventilator patients, it can decrease the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness, length of stay and duration of noninvasive ventilation in ICU, and promoted the recovery of grip strength.