Safety early mobilization in critical patients: a review of literature

Abstract

Immobility can cause several complications that influence the recovery of critical illness, including skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness. This effect can be reduced with the implementation of early mobilization in the environment of the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), and some neurological, circulatory and respiratory factors should be considered in order to have a safe early mobilization. Therefore, this article aims to review the safety of early mobilization in patients admitted to an ICU.  A literature review was made through a research in Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Lilacs (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences) and SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online). Through the literature review, thirty-one full articles were obtained, and just the five ones which were relevant to the topic were selected. They were taken from the inclusion criteria, and were then grouped in a table in order to have the results presented. The amount of mobilizations was between 69 and 1449 sessions. Most of the items used the circulatory, respiratory or neurological mobilization criteria. The activities ranged from passive motion to walking. Adverse events occurred just in 0.96% to 4.3% of all activities. With this revision it was evident that early mobilization is a safe intervention which can be performed in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU.