Muscle Wasting in the Critically Ill

Effect of Early Rehabilitation Using an Active/Passive Cycling Device on Muscle Wasting in the Critically Ill: A Randomised Controlled Study

Muscle wasting is a common consequence of critical illness, and has a profound impact upon the rehabilitation of those who survive admission to critical to care. The investigators intend to assess if the application of 10 sessions over two weeks of passive cycling with electrical stimulation to the lower limbs and abdomen can prevent muscle loss, or at least cause less muscle loss, compared to patients who receive standard daily sessions of physiotherapy. This will be done by comparing the changes in muscle size on ultrasound between the two groups, comparing functional measures at a 3 month follow up, and by performing translational research using tissue samples taken during the study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscle Weakness
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Cycling with FES; Other: Routine physiotherapy

Detailed Description

Patients are mechanically ventilated and sedated with a diagnosis of sepsis (from any source) will be eligible for this study. Provided they meet the inclusion criteria, they will be randomised within 48 hours of admission, to either ten 30 minute sessions of passive cycling with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the thighs, hamstrings, calves and abdomen over a 14 day period, or to a control group of routine physiotherapy. The trial group will also receive this physiotherapy.

On admission to the study, all patients will receive on day 1:

Ultrasound measurements of:

Rectus femoris cross-sectional area Thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius Thickness, pennation angle and derived fascicle length of vastus lateralis and medial head of gastrocnemius Thickness of rectus abdominis. Thickness of diaphragm

A blood sample taken from an arterial line A urine sample taken from a urinary catheter A muscle biopsy taken from the right vastus lateralis

They will then receive ten 30 minute sessions of passive cycling with functional electrical stimulation over 14 days, or a control group will receive routine physiotherapy during this period.

Repeat ultrasounds will be taken at days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14. Repeat blood and urine sampling at days 5, 10 and 14. Repeat muscle biopsy at day 14.

All cycling, ultrasounds and tissue sampling will end on day 14 regardless of the ventilator status of the patient.

In patients who survive to be discharged from critical care, they will be followed up at 3 months for:

Repeat ultrasound scan of all muscles listed Six minute walk test Hand grip and lower limb dynamometry, Balance testing (by standing upright on a pressure plate for 20 seconds) Psychological assessment using the 36 item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire

Tissue sampling will be stored in the University of Liverpool for analysis of biomarkers of muscle damage and loss between the two groups.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Liverpool, United Kingdom, L7 8XP
    • Intensive Care Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be recruited in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. All patients will be over 18, and have a critical illness that requires mechanical ventilation with an initial period of sedation. This study will focus on patients with a definite or suspected case of sepsis from any source.

Sepsis has been recently redefined as: "Life threatening organ-dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection" whilst septic shock has become a subset of sepsis, defined as: "circulatory and cellular/metabolic dysfunction associated with a higher risk of mortality(44).

For the purposes of this study, a patient will be regarded as septic if they have evidence of infection-related organ failure (e.g. sepsis-associated coagulopathy, altered mental state, cardiovascular dysfunction, acute kidney injury, and altered liver function) and require invasive mechanical ventilation with either definite or suspected evidence of infection. This is to allow prompt treatment with FES rather than waiting for a positive microbiological result to be obtained.

Within the definition of sepsis "from any source" a list of following is illustrative but not exhaustive:

• Urogenital sepsis (including urosepsis, pyelonephritis, endometritis and chorioamnionitis)
• Pneumonia (including community acquired, hospital acquired, and aspiration pneumonia. Ventilator associated pneumonia would be excluded.)
• Neurological infections such as encephalitis and meningitis.
• Cellulitis, osteomyelitis and infections of soft tissue NOT affecting the lower limb.
• Surgical infections, including post-operative laparotomy with evidence of peritoneal soiling, and evidence of infection prior to the operation, in patients who require 2 or more organ system support after the operation.
• Intra-abdominal sepsis, including biliary sepsis, hepatitis, and acute pancreatitis. In the case of acute pancreatitis, evidence of infection is required to fulfil the criteria. Acute pancreatitis with sterile tissue/fluid samples would not be suitable.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients under 18
• Patients who decline consent
• Pregnancy
• Neuromuscular disease
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Lower limb trauma
• Patients unlikely to survive to 96 hours post admission
• Consent unobtainable within 48 hours of admission
• Morbid obesity (BMI>40).
• Presence of a pacemaker or Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD).
• Unlikely to be mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cycling with FES; Ten sessions of 14 days in patients consented within 48 hours of arriving in critical care who are sedated and mechanically ventilated with a diagnosis of sepsis from any source. Sessions last a maximum of 30 minutes (with an ideal minimum of 20 minutes), using the Restorative Therapies (RT) 300 Supine with the Sage 12-channel stimulator. Stimulation will provided to the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and abdomen. Both legs and both sides of the abdomen will be stimulated. Stimulation current settings are individualised for each patient and each muscle group. These patients will also receive their routine physiotherapy that they would have received if they were in the control group (or not in the trial at all).	Device: Cycling with FES; As described already; Other Names: RT-300 Supine; Restorative Therapies
Active Comparator: Control - routine physiotherapy; Usual daily physiotherapy, consisting of limb care and mobilisation, and respiratory care and exercises as appropriate.	Other: Routine physiotherapy; As described already

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ultrasound assessment of rectus femoris - Change in cross sectional area (cm2)	Measurement of cross-sectional area of rectus femoris (cm2)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of rectus femoris - Change in muscle layer thickness (cm)	Measurement on muscle layer thickness of rectus femoris (cm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of anterior thigh musculature - Change in muscle layer thickness (cm)	Measurement of combined muscle layer thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (cm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of vastus lateralis - change in muscle layer thickness (cm)	Measurement of the thickness of the vastus lateralis between the superficial and deep aponeuroses (cm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of vastus lateralis - change in fascicle pennation angle (degrees)	Measurement of the pennation angle of the muscle fascicles as they insert into the deep aponeuroses of the vastus lateralis muscle (degrees)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of vastus lateralis - change in fascicle length (cm)	This is a single measure, derived by trigonometry (the Sine of the pennation angle multiplied by the muscle thickness).	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of the medial head of gastrocnemius - change in muscle thickness (cm)	Measurement of the thickness of the medial head of the gastrocnemius between the superficial and deep aponeuroses (cm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of the medial head of gastrocnemius - change in fascicle pennation angle (degrees)	Measurement of the pennation angle of the muscle fascicles as they insert into the deep aponeuroses of the medial head of gastrocnemius (angles)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of the medial head of gastrocnemius - change in fascicle length (cm)	This is single measure which is mathematically derived by trigonometry using the known pennation angle (degrees) and thickness (cm): the Sine of the pennation angle multiplied by the muscle thickness.	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of the rectus abdominis muscle - change in muscle layer thickness (cm)	Measurement of rectus abdominis muscle layer thickness - (cm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Diaphragm thickness assessment by ultrasound - change in end expiratory thickness (mm)	Assessment of thickness at end expiration (mm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Diaphragm thickness assessment by ultrasound - change in end inspiratory thickness (mm)	Assessment of thickness at end inspiration (mm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Diaphragm thickness assessment by ultrasound - change in thickening fraction (%)	Assessment of thickening fraction, derived mathematically from thicknesses at inspiration and expiration (%)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.
Ultrasound assessment of change in diaphragmatic excursion (cm)	Assessment of maximal excursion of diaphragm, measured with M-mode ultrasonography (mm)	Ultrasounds taken on day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14, and at 3 month follow up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measurement of change in blood biomarkers (microRNA analysis for markers of muscle loss, expressed as a percentage fold increase/decrease compared to baseline).	Blood samples taken during the study period and analysed for markers of muscle loss/degradation	Samples taken on days 1, 5, 10 and 14
Measurement of change in urinary biomarkers (microRNA analysis for markers of muscle loss, expressed as a percentage-fold increase/decrease compared to baseline).	Blood and urine samples taken during the study period and analysed for markers of muscle loss/degradation	Samples taken on days 1, 5, 10 and 14
Measurement of the number of biomarkers expressed from muscle biopsies (microRNA analysis for markers of muscle loss, expressed as the number and type of micro-RNAs expressed within the samples).	Muscle biopsy samples taken during the study period and analysed for markers of muscle loss/degradation. Number and type of micro-RNAs to be noted).	Samples taken on day 1 and 14
Measurement of muscle fibre cross sectional area from muscle biopsies (mm2)	Histological staining and analysis of muscle fibre composition, expressed in square millimetres and as a percentage-fold increase/decrease compared to baseline).	Samples taken on day 1 and 14
Follow up testing - Distance achieved in a 6 minute walk test, metres)	Distance achieved during a 6 minute shuttle walk of 20 metres length	At 3 month follow up
Follow up testing - Hand grip dynamometry (hand grip strength, Newtons)	Strength of hand grip in both hands	At 3 month follow up
Follow up - Lower limb strength assessment - Force generated at maximal contraction for knee extension (Newtons)	Strength of extension at the knee in both legs using a hand held dynamometry device (microFET 2 wireless device). Measured in Newtons.	At 3 month follow up
Follow up testing - Balance assessment - Comparison of changes in center of pressure on a pressure plate.	Comparison of changes in centre of pressure on a pressure plate. The centre of pressure is measured over 20 seconds with the participant standing still. Maximal variation in lateral and anterior-posterior sway is recorded by the pressure plate.	At 3 month follow up
Follow up testing - Psychological assessment - Comparison of total scores obtained from the SF-36 questionnaire (maximum score 100, minimum score zero).	Comparison of scores obtained from the SF-36 questionnaire between the two groups. A lower score indicates greater disability.	At 3 month follow up
Follow Up - Maximal Inspiratory Pressure monitoring in kilopascals (kPa)	Using the Power Breathe K2 device	At 3 month follow up
Incidence of delirium during the trial period - using the CAM-ICU tool.	Assessed by twice daily Cambridge Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) assessments	Days 1-14
Incidence of renal replacement therapy during the trial period	Daily monitoring to see if patient has required renal replacement therapy (defined as either haemofiltration or haemodialysis).	Days 1-14
Total dose of noradrenaline given per day	Daily monitoring of doses of inotropic and vasopressor drugs	Day 1-14
Overall fluid balance (in mls) at the end of each study day	Daily noting of 24 hour fluid balance	Day 1-14
Total Insulin doses (in international units) required per day	Daily monitoring of exogenous insulin requirements	Day 1-14
Blood glucose concentration (mmol/L)	Daily monitoring of glucose levels	Day 1-14
Heart rate variability	Measured via a wireless skin patch	Days 1 - 14 but only on the days where cycling takes place (ten sessions)
Safety - number of times an endotracheal/tracheostomy tube is dislodged during the cycling sessions	Expressed as a simple count of how many times an airway device dislodges	Days 1 - 14 but only on the days where cycling takes place (ten sessions)
Safety - number of times an nasogastric tube is dislodged during the cycling sessions	Expressed as a simple count of how many times a nasogastric feed tube dislodges.	Days 1 - 14 but only on the days where cycling takes place (ten sessions).
Safety - number of times an a central or arterial line device is dislodged during the cycling sessions	Expressed as a simple count of how many times a central or arterial line dislodges.	Days 1 - 14 but only on the days where cycling takes place (ten sessions).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Liverpool
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ingeborg D Welters, University of Liverpool

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 14, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 6, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 10, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 4, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 3, 2020
• Last Verified: November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Functional Electrical Stimulation; FES; ICU acquired weakness (ICU-AW)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Atrophy; Muscle Weakness; Muscular Atrophy
• Other Study ID Numbers: UoL001367

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Translational research will take place in the Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease. Only the participant number of the sample will be shared with any staff working with tissue samples.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes