The Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

on Muscle Wasting in Artificially Ventilated and Sedated Patients at the Intensive Care Unit: a Pilot Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00442728

Enrollment

Registered

2007-03-02

Start date

2003-01-31

Completion date

2003-06-30

Last updated

2007-03-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Postoperative Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Ventilatory Failure

Keywords

Functional electrical stimulation, muscular atrophy, intensive care

Brief summary

The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle atrophy in sedated patients on intensive care was studied. The aim of this study was to explore if electrical stimulation could prevent muscle atrophy.

Detailed description

Patients were included in the study one day after administration when prolonged sedation and ventilation were expected. They were divided into intervention (n=7) and control (n=14) groups. For the intervention group, an intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied daily for 30 minutes on the right thigh whereas the left thigh was used as a control. Heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored before, during and after the electrostimulation. Perimeter of the right and left thighs was measured in both groups every 3 days at 5 cm above the upper edge of the kneecap.

Interventions

DEVICEELECTRICAL STIMULATION

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

50 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* . Prior to inclusion in the study, an informed consent was given by the family of the patients which was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Virga Jesse Hospital and was performed in accordance with the standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients were excluded from the study if they were still able to move their limb actively in spite of the sedation. Patients were also excluded if they had signs of recent ischemia or infarction for less then seven days. Patients with severe orthopaedic or vascular damage, i.e., fractures or oedema in the lower limbs were also excluded. Patients with an augmented risk for neuro electrical stimulation such as open wounds, hemodialysis or an arterial catheter at the stimulation area were also excluded.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Perimeter of the right and left thighs was measured in both groups every 3 days at 5 cm above the upp	—

Countries

Belgium

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026