Changes in barriers to implementing early mobilization in the intensive care unit: a single center retrospective cohort study.

This study was undertaken to investigate the rate of mobilization, defined as a rehabilitation level of sitting on the edge of a bed or higher, and its association with changes in barriers in the intensive care unit (ICU). Consecutive patients from January 2016 to March 2019 admitted to the ICU, 18 years old or older, who did not meet exclusion criteria, were eligible. The primary outcome was the rate of mobilization. Barriers, their changes on a daily basis, and clinical outcomes, such as walking independence at hospital discharge, were also investigated. The association between the barriers and mobilization, and walking independence were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. During the study period, 177 patients were enrolled. Mobilization was achieved by 116 patients (66%) by the 7th ICU day. The barrier to mobilization was circulatory status on days 1 and 2, consciousness level on days 3 to 5, and medical staff factors on days 6 and 7. Multivariate analysis showed that consciousness level (OR: 0.38, p=0.01), and medical staff factors (OR: 0.49, p=0.01) were significantly associated with mobilization. By hospital discharge 125 patients (71%) could walk independently. Consciousness level was associated (OR: 0.52, p=0.04) with walking independence. In this study, over half of patients could achieve mobilization within the first 7 days. Barriers to mobilization in the ICU change over time. Consciousness level is significantly associated with both mobilization and independent walking at discharge.

Determinants of gait independence after mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: a Japanese multicenter retrospective exploratory cohort study.

PURPOSE: Gait independence is one of the most important factors related to returning home from the hospital for patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the factors affecting gait independence have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting gait independence at hospital discharge using a standardized early mobilization protocol that was shared by participating hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who entered the ICU from January 2017 to March 2018 were screened. The exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation < 48 hours, age < 18, loss of gait independence before hospitalization, being treated for neurological issues, unrecoverable disease, unavailability of continuous data, and death during ICU stay. Basic attributes, such as age, ICU length of stay, information on early mobilization while in the ICU, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum-score at ICU discharge, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and delirium, and the degree of gait independence at hospital discharge, were collected. Gait independence was determined using a mobility scale of the Barthel Index, and the factors that impaired gait independence at hospital discharge were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, age, APACHE II score, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, incidence of delirium, and MRC sum-score at ICU discharge were extracted as significant. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.014), MRC sum-score < 48 (p = 0.021), and delirium at discharge from ICU (p < 0.0001) were extracted as significant variables. CONCLUSIONS: We found that age and incidence of ICU-AW and delirium were significantly related to impaired gait independence at hospital discharge.

Continuous Monitoring and Feedback Optimizes Blood Volume Inoculated Into Culture Bottles in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

In this quasi-experimental study that included 3489 blood culture bottles, interventions that included the distribution of simple weight-stratified guidelines for recommended blood volume and monthly feedback to physicians were effective in optimizing blood volume for culture in a pediatric intensive care unit.