Mobility and Ambulation for Patients with Pulmonary Artery Catheters: A Retrospective Descriptive Study.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this retrospective study are to: 1) describe the amount and type of documented mobility activity for patients with an indwelling Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) and 2) document the frequency and type of complications that occur with an indwelling PAC during patient participation in these activities. METHODS: This study is a single-center, retrospective, descriptive study including all patients (>18 years) between June 2010 and October 2012 with an indwelling PAC in the Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Data was extracted on all documented mobility activity each of these patients performed with nursing or during skilled treatments provided by a physical therapist (PT), or occupational therapist (OT). Any notation of PAC-related complications while the PAC was in place was recorded. RESULTS: In the CICU over a 29-month period, 366 patients with indwelling PACs performed bed mobility, transfers, ambulation and climbed stairs with no reports of PAC complications during or in relation to participation in mobility activity. CONCLUSION: The data suggests that participation in mobility activities does not place patients with an indwelling PAC at increased risk of PAC related complications. This data further supports the involvement of rehabilitation specialists in the CICU. Future prospective research is necessary to measure the effects of physical therapy treatment on patients with indwelling PAC.

A mobility program for an inpatient acute care medical unit.

OVERVIEW: For many patients, hospitalization brings prolonged periods of bed rest, which are associated with such adverse health outcomes as increased length of stay, increased risk of falls, functional decline, and extended-care facility placement. Most studies of progressive or early mobility protocols designed to minimize these adverse effects have been geared toward specific patient populations and conducted by multidisciplinary teams in either ICUs or surgical units. Very few mobility programs have been developed for and implemented on acute care medical units. This evidence-based quality improvement project describes how a mobility program, devised for and put to use on a general medical unit in a large Midwestern academic health care system, improved patient outcomes.