Critically Ill Patients With a Predicted Prolonged ICU Stay
Conditions
Brief summary
Critically ill patients with a predicted prolonged ICU stay will receive neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of one quadriceps muscle. Whether the dominant or non-dominant side will be stimulated is chosen randomly by using opaque sealed envelopes. The patients will receive electrical stimulation for 1h for 7 consecutive days. The stimulated and non-stimulated side will be compared for it's thickness (by using ultrasound imaging), muscle strength if the patients are awake and cooperative (using the medical research council scale and handheld dynamometry) and a muscle biopsy will be taken. As a primary outcome the investigators hypothesize that electrical stimulation will preserve muscle mass with respect to the non-stimulated quadriceps. As secondary outcomes the investigators hypothesize that electrical stimulation can reduce muscle strength loss and leads to a better protein balance and thicker muscle fibers in the stimulated quadriceps.
Interventions
OTHERelectrical stimulation
Sponsors
KU Leuven
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 110 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All adult ICU patients with a predicted prolonged ICU stay
Exclusion criteria
* Preexisting neuromuscular disease, polyneuropathy or myopathy (e.g. Guillain-Barré, myasthenia gravis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, …) * Receiving neuromuscular blocking agents * Musculoskeletal conditions of the pelvis and/or lower limb (e.g. fractures, skin disease ) * Focal neurological conditions of the pelvis and/or lower limb * Skin disease (e.g. burns) * Presence of a pace-maker or defibrillator * Hemodynamic or Respiratory Instability, active cardiac ischemia * High fever (\>39°) * Pregnancy * Brain death * Intracranial pressure \>20 mmHg * An anticipated fatal outcome * Psychiatric disorders or severe agitation * Re-admission to the ICU
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle thickness | pre-intervention period | Ultrasound measure in cm |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle strength (MRC & HHD) | pre intervention period | MRC: scale HHD: MicroFet, in kg Force |
| Muscle fiber thickness | post intervention period | biopsy using Bergström-Stille 5mm needles |
| Protein balance | post intervention | biopsy using Bergström-Stille 5mm needles |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed