The Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

on Muscle Wasting in Artificially Ventilated and Sedated Patients at the Intensive Care Unit: a Pilot Study

The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle atrophy in sedated patients on intensive care was studied. The aim of this study was to explore if electrical stimulation could prevent muscle atrophy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Ventilatory Failure; Postoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

Detailed Description

Patients were included in the study one day after administration when prolonged sedation and ventilation were expected. They were divided into intervention (n=7) and control (n=14) groups. For the intervention group, an intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied daily for 30 minutes on the right thigh whereas the left thigh was used as a control. Heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored before, during and after the electrostimulation. Perimeter of the right and left thighs was measured in both groups every 3 days at 5 cm above the upper edge of the kneecap.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Limburg
    • Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium, 3500
      • REVAL

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• . Prior to inclusion in the study, an informed consent was given by the family of the patients which was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Virga Jesse Hospital and was performed in accordance with the standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients were excluded from the study if they were still able to move their limb actively in spite of the sedation. Patients were also excluded if they had signs of recent ischemia or infarction for less then seven days. Patients with severe orthopaedic or vascular damage, i.e., fractures or oedema in the lower limbs were also excluded. Patients with an augmented risk for neuro electrical stimulation such as open wounds, hemodialysis or an arterial catheter at the stimulation area were also excluded.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Perimeter of the right and left thighs was measured in both groups every 3 days at 5 cm above the upp

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg
• Collaborators: KU Leuven
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: RAf LJ Meesen, Phd, PHL

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2003
• Study Completion: June 1, 2003

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 1, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): March 2, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 2, 2007
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 1, 2007
• Last Verified: March 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: intensive care; Functional electrical stimulation; muscular atrophy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Lung Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Respiratory Insufficiency; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Hypoventilation
• Other Study ID Numbers: REVAL300107