Exploring the Potential Effectiveness of Combining Optimal Nutrition With Electrical Stimulation to Maintain Muscle Health in Critical Illness: A Narrative Review

Effect of an evidence-based early rehabilitation program on adult patients with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy of early rehabilitation program for VV-ECMO patients and observe the influence on the respiratory and skeletal muscles.

DESIGN

A cohort study.

SETTING

The study was conducted with VVECMO patients in a comprehensive ICU with 32 beds.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ultrasound measurements were performed on each patients on day 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14, including diaphragmatic excursion (DE), diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF), intercostal muscle thickening fraction (ICMTF), thickness of the rectus femoris (RF), thickness of vastus intermedius (VI), and rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA). Data on basic characteristics, results of ultrasound measurements, patients outcomes and adverse events were collected.

RESULTS

22 patients received usual rehabilitation measures were set as the control group and 23 patients underwent early rehabilitation program were set as the study group. There were no differences in diaphragmatic excursion, diaphragmatic thickening fraction, intercostal muscle thickening fraction, thickness of rectus femoris, thickness of vastus intermedius, rectus femoris cross-sectional area between two groups on day 1 after VV-ECMO treatment (P > 0.05). The variation of diaphragmatic thickening fraction and intercostal muscle thickening fraction decreased on the day 7 and 14 after treatment (P < 0.05). The variation of vastus intermedius thickness and rectus femoris cross-sectional area in the study group was less compared with those in the control group on day 4, 7, 10 and 14. The ECMO duration in the study group was shorter than that in the control group (12.00 [10.00-16.25] days vs. 8.00 [6.00-12.25] days, P = 0.002), but there was no difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSION

Early rehabilitation program can ameliorate muscle atrophy. We recommend implementation of our rehabilitation program in VV-ECMO patients. This program can improve skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction in patients with VV-ECMO effectively and perhaps improve quality of life for patients in the future.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Early rehabilitation program put higher demands bedside nurses. It requires them to observe conditions of VVECMO patients closely, assess the feasibility of rehabilitation promptly, and monitor for any adverse reactions. Ultrasound measurement is a noninvasive and useful tool to assess muscle atrophy in ICU patients. Early rehabilitation program can improve skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction in patients with VV-ECMO effectively.

The effect of protein provision and exercise therapy on patient-reported and clinical outcomes in intensive care unit survivors: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors deal with long-term health problems, which negatively affect their quality of life (QoL). Nutritional and exercise intervention could prevent the decline of muscle mass and physical functioning which occurs during critical illness. Despite the growing amount of research, robust evidence is lacking.

METHODS

For this systematic review, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched. The effect of protein provision (PP) or combined protein and exercise therapy (CPE) during or after ICU admission on QoL, physical functioning, muscle health, protein/energy intake and mortality was assessed compared to standard care.

RESULTS

Four thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven records were identified. After screening, data were extracted for 15 articles (9 randomised controlled trials and 6 non-randomised studies). Two studies reported improvements in muscle mass, of which one found higher independency in activities of daily living. No significant effect was found on QoL. Overall, protein targets were seldom met and often below recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Evidence for the effect of PP or CPE on patient-reported outcomes in ICU survivors is limited due to study heterogeneity and lack of high-quality studies. Future research and clinical practice should focus on adequate protein delivery with exercise interventions to improve long-term outcomes.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients with COVID-19 Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis

In March 2020, COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Hospitalized patients affected by COVID-19 presented with severe respiratory and motor impairment, especially those who required intensive treatment and invasive mechanical ventilation, with sequelae that extended after the period of hospitalization. Thus, the aim of the current study was to verify the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in 2020 and 2021, according to age group. Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Data were collected through the “ICUs Brasileiras” between March 2020 and November 2021 for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to COVID-19. The following were analyzed: the number of hospital admissions, days in the ICU and hospital, clinical aspects (non-invasive or invasive ventilatory support, comorbidities, frailty, SAPS 3 and SOFA severity scales, use of amines and renal support), and ICU and hospital mortality rate. Results: A total of 166,966 ICU hospital admissions were evaluated over the evaluated quarters. The main results showed a peak in the number of hospitalizations between March and May 2021, with a higher percentage of males. The peak of ICU admissions for 7 days was between March and May 2021 and 21 days between March and May 2020. In addition, higher deaths were observed in the age groups between 40 and 80 years between 2020 and 2021, with the group above 81 being the age group with the highest mortality. Mortality in the ICU of ventilated patients was higher in the age group above 70 years. Another observation was the predominance of SAPS 3 and the peak of mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days between June and August 2021. Conclusion: The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 were influenced by age group, showing higher mortality over 81 years and over 70 years in the ICU supported by mechanical ventilation, maintained for 7 days from June to August 2021. The years 2020 and 2021 also showed differences for patients with COVID-19, with greater hospitalization between March and May 2021, especially in the ICU for 7 days, and between March and May 2020 for the 21-day period.

Combining exercise, protein supplementation and electric stimulation to mitigate muscle wasting and improve outcomes for survivors of critical illness-The ExPrES study

BACKGROUND

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with high protein supplementation (HPRO) to preserve muscle mass and function has not been assessed in ICU patients. We compared the effects of combining NMES and HPRO with mobility and strength rehabilitation (NMES+HPRO+PT) to standardized ICU care.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of combined NMES+HPRO+PT in mitigating sarcopenia as evidenced by CT volume and cross-sectional area when compared to usual ICU care. Additionally, we assessed the effects of the combined therapy on select clinical outcomes, including nutritional status, nitrogen balance, delirium and days on mechanical ventilation.

METHODS

Participants were randomized by computer generated assignments to receive either NMES+HPRO+PT or standard care. Over 14 days the standardized ICU care group (N = 23) received usual critical care and rehabilitation while the NMES+HPRO+PT group (N = 16) received 30 min neuromuscular electrical stimulation of quadriceps and dorsiflexors twice-daily for 10 days and mean 1.3 ± 0.4 g/kg body weight of high protein supplementation in addition to standard care. Nonresponsive participants received passive exercises and, once responsive, were encouraged to exercise actively. Primary outcome measures were muscle volume and cross-sectional area measured using CT-imaging. Secondary outcomes included nutritional status, nitrogen balance, delirium and days on mechanical ventilation.

RESULTS

The NMES+HPRO+PT group (N = 16) lost less lower extremity muscle volume compared to the standard care group (N = 23) and had larger mean combined thigh cross-sectional area. The nitrogen balance remained negative in the standard care group, while positive on days 5, 9, and 14 in the NMES+HPRO+PT group. Standard care group participants experienced more delirium than the NMES+HPRO+PT group. No differences between groups when comparing length of stay or mechanical ventilation days.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, high protein supplementation and mobility and strength rehabilitation resulted in mitigation of lower extremity muscle loss and less delirium in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02509520. Registered July 28, 2015.

Electromyostimulation in sport

Electromyostimulation (EMS) is a widely used therapeutic tool of low-frequency electrotherapy in several areas of rehabilitation, with gradual use increasingly in sports as well. The main goal of our article is to approach the use of EMS in sports based on available studies. EMS can be called as a training method used to obtain muscle activation through externally applied electric currents to the muscles to achieve a functional increase in sports performance by training fast motor units. Even if, based on the available study database, there are no clear conclusions regarding the effectiveness and application of EMS in the sense of sports, we can say that EMS represents one of the means by which we can influence muscle functionality, not only in terms of rehabilitation, but also as a possible way of increasing sports performance.

Passive motion of the lower extremities in sedated and ventilated patients in the ICU - a systematic review of early effects and replicability of Interventions

Early mobilization, which includes active / passive motion in bed along with mobilization out of bed, is recommended to prevent the development of intensive care unit acquired-weakness (ICU-AW) for patients with critical illness on the intensive care unit. To date, the impact of passive motion of the lower extremities in sedated and ventilated patients remains unclear. The aim of the study is to systematically review and summarize the currently available randomized controlled trials in English or German language on the impact of passive motion of the lower extremities in sedated and ventilated patients ≥ 18 years in the intensive care unit on musculature, inflammation and immune system and the development of intensive care unit-acquired weakness and to evaluate the replicability of interventions and the methodological quality of included studies. A systematic literature search was performed up to 20th February 2022 in the databases Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and PEDro. The description of the intervention (TIDieR checklist) and the methodological quality (Downs and Black checklist) were assessed. Five studies were included in the qualitative syntheses. On average, the studies were rated with 6.8 out of 12 points according to the TIDieR checklist. For the methodological quality an average of 19.8 out of 27 points on the Downs and Black checklist was reported. The results of included studies indicated that muscle loss may be reduced by passive manual movement, passive cycling and passive motion on a continuous passive motion-unit. In addition, positive effects were reported on the reduction of nitrosative stress and the immune response. The impact on the development of ICU-AW remains unclear. In conclusion, passive movement show a slight tendency for beneficial changes on cellular level in sedated and ventilated patients in the ICU within the first days of admission, which may indicate a reduction of muscle wasting and could prevent the development of ICU-AW. Future randomized controlled trials should use larger samples, use complete intervention description, use a comparable set of outcome measures, use rigorous methodology and examine the effect of passive motion on the development of ICU-AW.

Therapeutic Potential of Electromyostimulation (EMS) in Critically Ill Patients—A Systematic Review

Ample evidence exists that intensive care unit (ICU) treatment and invasive ventilation induce a transient or permanent decline in muscle mass and function. The functional deficit is often called ICU-acquired weakness with critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) and/or myopathy (CIM) being the major underlying causes. Histopathological studies in ICU patients indicate loss of myosin filaments, muscle fiber necrosis, atrophy of both muscle fiber types as well as axonal degeneration. Besides medical prevention of risk factors such as sepsis, hyperglycemia and pneumonia, treatment is limited to early passive and active mobilization and one third of CIP/CIM patients discharged from ICU never regain their pre-hospitalization constitution. Electromyostimulation [EMS, also termed neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)] is known to improve strength and function of healthy and already atrophied muscle, and may increase muscle blood flow and induce angiogenesis as well as beneficial systemic vascular adaptations. This systematic review aimed to investigate evidence from randomized controlled trails (RCTs) on the efficacy of EMS to improve the condition of critically ill patients treated on ICU. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using PubMed (Medline), CENTRAL (including Embase and CINAHL), and Google Scholar. Out of 1,917 identified records, 26 articles (1,312 patients) fulfilled the eligibility criteria of investigating at least one functional measure including muscle function, functional independence, or weaning outcomes using a RCT design in critically ill ICU patients. A qualitative approach was used, and results were structured by 1) stimulated muscles/muscle area (quadriceps muscle only; two to four leg muscle groups; legs and arms; chest and abdomen) and 2) treatment duration (≤10 days, >10 days). Stimulation parameters (impulse frequency, pulse width, intensity, duty cycle) were also collected and the net EMS treatment time was calculated. A high grade of heterogeneity between studies was detected with major cofactors being the analyzed patient group and selected outcome variable. The overall efficacy of EMS was inconclusive and neither treatment duration, stimulation site or net EMS treatment time had clear effects on study outcomes. Based on our findings, we provide practical recommendations and suggestions for future studies investigating the therapeutic efficacy of EMS in critically ill patients.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021262287].

Pathophysiology and management of critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy

Critical illness-associated weakness (CIAW) is an umbrella term used to describe a group of neuromuscular disorders caused by severe illness. It can be subdivided into three major classifications based on the component of the neuromuscular system (i.e. peripheral nerves or skeletal muscle or both) that are affected. This includes critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP), critical illness myopathy (CIM), and an overlap syndrome, critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM). It is a common complication observed in people with critical illness requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Given CIAW is found in individuals experiencing grave illness, it can be challenging to study from a practical standpoint. However, over the past 2 decades, many insights into the pathophysiology of this condition have been made. Results from studies in both humans and animal models have found that a profound systemic inflammatory response and factors related to bioenergetic failure as well as microvascular, metabolic, and electrophysiological alterations underlie the development of CIAW. Current management strategies focus on early mobilization, achieving euglycemia, and nutritional optimization. Other interventions lack sufficient evidence, mainly due to a dearth of large trials. The goal of this Physiology in Medicine article is to highlight important aspects of the pathophysiology of these enigmatic conditions. It is hoped that improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying these disorders will lead to further study and new investigations for novel pharmacologic, nutritional, and exercise-based interventions to optimize patient outcomes.

Oral Nutrition during and after Critical Illness: SPICES for Quality of Care!

Malnutrition is associated to poor outcomes in critically ill patients. Oral nutrition is the route of feeding in less than half of the patients during the intensive care unit (ICU) stay and in the majority of ICU survivors. There are growing data indicating that insufficient and/or inadequate intakes in macronutrients and micronutrients are prevalent within these populations. The present narrative review focuses on barriers to food intakes and considers the different points that should be addressed in order to optimize oral intakes, both during and after ICU stay. They are gathered in the SPICES concept, which should help ICU teams improve the quality of nutrition care following 5 themes: swallowing disorders screening and management, patient global status overview, involvement of dieticians and nutritionists, clinical evaluation of nutritional intakes and outcomes, and finally, supplementation in macro-or micronutrients.

High protein versus medium protein delivery under equal total energy delivery in critical care: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Appropriate protein delivery amounts during the acute phase of critical care are unknown. Along with nutrition, early mobilization and the combination are important. We conducted a randomized controlled trial during critical care to assess high-protein and medium-protein delivery under equal total energy delivery with and without active early rehabilitation.

METHODS

ICU patients of August 2018-September 2019 were allocated to a high-protein group (target energy 20 kcal/kg/day, protein 1.8 g/kg/day) or a medium-protein group (target energy 20 kcal/kg/day, protein 0.9 g/kg/day) with the same nutrition protocol by day 10. By dividing the study period, standard rehabilitation was administered during the initial period. Rehabilitation with belt-type electrical muscle stimulation was given from day 2 in the latter as a historical comparison. Femoral muscle volume was evaluated on day 1 and day 10 using computed tomography.

RESULTS

This study analyzed 117 eligible patients with similar characteristics assigned to a high-protein or medium-protein group. Total energy delivery was around 20 kcal/kg/day in both groups, but protein delivery was 1.5 g/kg/day and 0.8 g/kg/day. As a primary outcome, femoral muscle volume loss was 12.9 ± 8.5% in the high-protein group and 16.9 ± 7.0% in the medium-protein group, with significant difference (p = 0.0059). Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome were significantly less frequent in the high-protein group. Muscle volume loss was significantly less in the high-protein group only during the electrical muscle stimulation period.

CONCLUSIONS

For critical care, high protein delivery provided better muscle volume maintenance, but only with active early rehabilitation.

REGISTRATION

University Hospital Medical Information Network, UMIN000033783 Registered on 16 Aug 2018. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000038538.

Rapid decreases of key antioxidant molecules in critically ill patients: A personalized approach

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Oxidative stress is regarded a key component of critical illness and has been associated with poor prognosis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients. Diverse antioxidant treatments have been applied to combat oxidative stress in ICU, yet the results were typically disappointing. An explanation for this failure is that all studies utilized antioxidants indiscriminately and did not take into account the antioxidant profile of the patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether critically ill patients experience different insufficiencies in three major antioxidants with a "recycling" redox relationship (vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione) and in the central reductant molecule of many enzymatic antioxidants (NADPH).

METHODS

Sixty mechanically-ventilated adult medical critically ill patients (age: 63.5 ± 17.1; APACHE II score: 21.2 ± 7.4; Glasgow Coma Scale: 6.2 ± 1.9) were enrolled in the study, while 20 healthy age-matched volunteers served as control group. The antioxidant profile and the level of systemic oxidative stress (F₂-isoprostanes) were measured at ICU admission and at days 1 and 7.

RESULTS

The majority of the ICU patients developed rapid and severe antioxidant insufficiencies (by exhibiting less than 50% of the control values) in one (22/60), two (7/60) or three (2/60) of the antioxidants measured, despite the almost similar levels of oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The wide heterogeneity in antioxidant decreases in response to ICU stay highlights the importance of patient stratification when planning to apply antioxidant treatments and indicates that the successful delivery of personalized clinical nutrition may depend on our ability to identify "responsive" phenotypes.

Can exercise and nutrition stimulate muscle protein gain in the ICU patient?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The intended purpose of nutritional and exercise interventions during ICU stay is often to limit the muscle loss associated with critical illness. Unfortunately, direct measurements of muscle protein turnover or potential surrogates have often been neglected in clinical trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

We discuss the potential advantages and drawbacks of common outcome measures for assessing changes in muscle structure and function over time, and how temporal changes in patient physiology require consideration. There is an increasing awareness of emphasizing functional outcomes in recent clinical trials. We here summarize the latest research on therapies attempting to limit muscle loss in ICU patients, with a focus on muscle protein metabolism. No recent or older studies show any effect of nutritional interventions on muscle protein gain, although some smaller studies show a promising positive effect on muscle thickness and function. Some studies show a positive effect of increased physical activity in the ICU on muscle mass and function but heterogeneity of the interventions and outcome measures make any general conclusions impossible.

SUMMARY

Several knowledge gaps remain regarding the importance of muscle protein regulation as a driver of improved physical function following ICU discharge. In our opinion, physiological investigations are needed to guide the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.