Progressive Rehabilitation Therapy in Patients With Advanced Lung Disease

March 21, 2024 updated by: Irina Timofte, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Assessing the Functional Impact of Progressive Rehabilitation Therapy in Patients With Advanced Lung Disease Requiring Lung Transplantation or ECMO- Bridge to Transplant

The International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry data shows that there is a growing population of critically ill patients with advanced lung disease undergoing lung transplantation.

The goal of our study is to evaluate the role of intensive physical therapy for patients with advanced lung disease requiring transplant or ECMO(extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)- bridge to transplant with emphasis on the restoration of functional independence and prevention of functional declines after lung transplantation.

The project is a designed as a randomized prospective research study investigating the impact of a multi-modal rehabilitation program(MRP), which incorporates neuromuscular electric stimulation(NMES), strength and mobility training, and nutritional supplementation(NS) in ameliorating the loss of muscle mass and strength, and lower extremity balance, strength and coordination that will decrease time on the ventilator or ECMO, stay in the ICU and hospital.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Intensive rehabilitation is recognized as an essential component to successful outcomes for post procedure recovery after a major cardio-thoracic procedure. The investigators propose a unique multi-modal rehabilitation program (MRP) that combines a step-up physical therapy protocol with neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES), nutritional supplementation (NS), occupational therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation techniques to achieve improved functional outcomes for advanced lung disease patients requiring transplantation or ECMO-bridge to transplant. The investigators hypothesized that a progressive rehabilitation program, incorporating neuromuscular electric stimulation, strength and balance training, and nutritional supplementation with essential amino acids will reduce sarcopenia and loss of functional mobility in patients with advanced lung disease requiring transplantation or ECMO-bridge to transplant.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a progressive rehabilitation program, which incorporates neuromuscular electric stimulation, strength and mobility training, and nutritional supplementation in ameliorating 1) the loss of muscle mass and strength, and lower extremity balance, strength and coordination, 2) time on the ventilator or ECMO, stay in the intense care unit and hospital, and 3) return home and quality of life compared to usual ICU care.

The investigators propose a prospective, randomized interventional trial assessing the effectiveness of the program in decreasing adverse post-transplant outcomes compared to usual care. All advanced lung disease patients listed for transplantation or requiring ECMO cannulation will be screened for this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criterion. The patients will be randomized to either the treatment arm or usual care within 72 hours after the procedure (transplant or ECMO cannulation if patient requires ECMO-bridge to transplant). All groups of patients will undergo an initial global assessment of functional capabilities after listing for lung transplantation and then again within 72 hours after cardio-thoracic procedure (transplant or ECMO cannulation). Patients in the treatment arm will receive additional physical therapy that include: arm and leg exercises, using light weight machines, hand weights, or rubber bands, exercise machines such as portable arm or seated bikes. The treatment group will receive exercise therapy plus therapy with an electric stimulator device. This device uses weak electric impulses to involuntarily exercise the muscles (one-two sessions a day, with each session starting off at 10 minutes, then increasing to a maximum of 30 minutes). Subjects receiving the intervention will receive daily treatment using the neuromuscular electric stimulation unit. Four muscle groups (quadriceps and dorsiflexors bilaterally) will be stimulated using 3x5 inch surface electrodes (quadriceps) and 2x4 inch (dorsiflexors). In addition, patients in the experimental group will receive nutrition supplementation with essential amino acids 3 times a day in their feeding to prevent muscle breakdown and promote positive nitrogen balance. Comprehensive re-assessments are repeated on a weekly basis and the therapy will be adjusted to the patient's clinical status.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
        • University of Maryland

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Advanced lung disease requiring lung transplantation
  • Advanced lung disease requiring ECMO bridge to lung transplantation
  • Patient or legally authorized representative are able to provide written or witnessed verbal consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to obtain consent from patient or family member
  • Advanced lung disease but not transplant candidate due to other comorbidities
  • Patient is deemed unsafe for rehabilitation by the transplant physician

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: ECMO- Bridge to Transplant
Interventions: MRP+MNES(neuromuscular electric stimulation).Patients in the treatment arm will receive additional physical therapy(arm and leg exercises, using light weight machines, hand weights, or rubber bands, exercise machines such as portable arm or seated bikes) as well as therapy with an electric stimulator device. This device uses weak electric impulses to involuntarily exercise the muscles(one-two sessions a day).Four muscle groups(quadriceps and dorsiflexors bilaterally) will be stimulated using surface electrodes .In addition, patients in the experimental group will receive nutrition supplementation with essential amino acids 3 times a day in their feeding to prevent muscle breakdown and promote positive nitrogen balance.
nutrition supplementation includes addition of essential amino acids 3 times a day to feeding
Other Names:
  • Dietary Supplement(NS)
Other: ECMO- Bridge to Transplant Control Group

Interventions: standard of care

Patients are not going to receive any additional intervention.

Patients in the control group are going to receive standard of care
Active Comparator: Transplant
Interventions: MRP+MNES(neuromuscular electric stimulation).Patients in the treatment arm will receive additional physical therapy(arm and leg exercises, using light weight machines, hand weights, or rubber bands, exercise machines such as portable arm or seated bikes) as well as therapy with an electric stimulator device. This device uses weak electric impulses to involuntarily exercise the muscles(one-two sessions a day).Four muscle groups(quadriceps and dorsiflexors bilaterally) will be stimulated using surface electrodes .In addition, patients in the experimental group will receive nutrition supplementation with essential amino acids 3 times a day in their feeding to prevent muscle breakdown and promote positive nitrogen balance.
nutrition supplementation includes addition of essential amino acids 3 times a day to feeding
Other Names:
  • Dietary Supplement(NS)
Other: Transplant Control Group

Interventions: standard of care.

Patients are not going to receive any additional intervention.

Patients in the control group are going to receive standard of care

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Global muscle strength
Time Frame: 14 days
Muscle group strength is obtained using hand held dynamometer
14 days
Mobility status
Time Frame: 14 days
Mobility status is assessed with 6 minute walk distance
14 days
Muscle mass
Time Frame: 14 days,
Muscle mass measurement of lower extremity muscle volume using ultrasound scan or computer tomography
14 days,

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time on the ventilator or ECMO
Time Frame: 14 days, 1 month
Measured as ECMO or ventilator days
14 days, 1 month
Stay in the ICU and hospital
Time Frame: 14 days, 1,3month
Measured as days in the ICU and hospital
14 days, 1,3month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Irina Timofte, University of Maryland

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 13, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 23, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 18, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

June 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 22, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2024

Last Verified

March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HP-00080970

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Information will be shared only with the investigators that are actively involved in the study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Clinical Trials on MRP and NMES(neuromuscular electric stimulation)

3
Subscribe