Chest
Original ResearchCritical Care MedicineShort-term Systemic Effect of Electrical Muscle Stimulation in Critically Ill Patients
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Patients
The study was approved by the Scientific Council and the Ethics Committee of our hospital. Thirty-one patients who were critically ill (20 men; mean [± SD] age, 58 ± 19 years) admitted to our multidisciplinary hospital ICU were prospectively included in the study. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years; pregnancy; obesity (body mass index > 35 kg/m2); brain death; preexisting neuromuscular disease; diseases with systemic vascular involvement, such as lupus erythematosus; and technical obstacles
General Clinical and Laboratory Evaluation
The general clinical and laboratory evaluations are shown in Table 2. After the EMS session, there was a statistically significant, but clinically insignificant increase in mean heart rate and (94 ± 16 beats/min vs 99 ± 16 beats/min, respectively; p < 0.05) and systolic BP (127 ± 21 mm Hg vs 133 ± 23 mm Hg, respectively; p < 0.05) [Table 2]. Arterial blood gas levels and central venous oxygen saturation did not differ significantly at the end of the session (Table 2). The respiratory rate
Discussion
This study evaluated the short-term effect of a single, 45-min EMS session on the microcirculation of patients who were critically ill. The main finding is that EMS of the lower extremities induces a short-term systemic effect on the microcirculation of the thenar muscle. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use EMS in hospital ICU patients in order to assess its systemic effect on the microcirculation with the use of NIRS and the vascular occlusion technique.
EMS has been used as an
Conclusions
EMS is well tolerated and seems to have a short-term systemic effect on the peripheral microcirculation of patients who are critically ill, as assessed by NIRS using the vascular occlusion technique. The factors responsible for this systemic effect, such as the role of cytokines, should be explored in future studies. The fact that EMS has a systemic effect enhances the plausibility of evaluating the role of EMS as a preventive and therapeutic tool in patients who are critically ill with CIPNM.
Acknowledgments
Author contributions: All authors have contributed substantially to the submitted work and have read and approved the final manuscript. In particular, Dr. Gerovasili participated in the design of the study, data acquisition, analysis, and drafting of the manuscript. Drs. Tripodaki and Pitsolis, and Mr. Karatzanos participated in data acquisition, analysis, and drafting of the manuscript. Drs. Markaki and Zervakis revised critically the manuscript. Dr. Routsi helped with data analysis, revised
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Funding/Support: This research project (PENED) was cofinanced by the EU-European Social Fund and the Greek Ministry of Development (GSRT).
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