AUTHOR=Barros-Poblete Marisol , Bernardes Neto Saint-Clair , Benavides-Cordoba Vicente , Vieira Rodolfo P. , Baz Manuel , Martí Joan-Daniel , Spruit Martijn A. , Torres-Castro Rodrigo TITLE=Early mobilization in intensive care unit in Latin America: A survey based on clinical practice JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.1005732 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2022.1005732 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=Background

The application of early mobilization (EM) in intensive care units (ICUs) has shown to improve the physical and ventilatory status of critically ill patients, even after ICU stay. This study aimed to describe the practices regarding EM in ICUs in Latin America.

Methods

We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of professionals from all countries in Latin America. Over 3 months, professionals working in ICU units in Latin America were invited to answer the survey, which was designed by an expert committee and incorporated preliminary questions based on studies about EM recommendations.

Results

As many as 174 health professionals from 17 countries completed the survey. The interventions carried out within each ICU were active mobilization (90.5%), passive mobilization (85.0%), manual and instrumental techniques for drainage of mucus secretion (81.8%), and positioning techniques (81%). The professionals who most participated in the rehabilitation process in ICUs were physiotherapists (98.7%), intensive care physicians (61.6%), nurses (56.1%), and respiratory therapists (43.8%). In only 36.1% of the ICUs, protocols were established to determine when a patient should begin EM. In 38.1% of the cases, the onset of EM was established by individual evaluation, and in 25.0% of the cases, it was the medical indication to start rehabilitation and EM.

Conclusion

This report shows us that EM of critically ill patients is an established practice in our ICUs like in other developed countries.