Effect of early goal directed mobilization on clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated ICU patients

Patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) in the ICU are prone to various complications. It was proved that early mobility was effective, it improve functional status in patients with chronic diseases, and reduce disability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of early goal-directed mobilization (EGDM) on clinical outcomes of MV patients in ICU. Patients with mechanical ventilation in the ICU are generally confined to bed leading to limited mobility that may have detrimental effects on different body systems. EGDM prevents or reduces these effects and improves outcomes in patients following critical illness. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of EGDM on clinical outcomes of MV patients in ICU. 64 adult patients in the ICU who were undergoing mechanical ventilation assigned into two groups. With one group received conventional early mobilization (admitted to the intensive care unit [ICU] between August 2023 and January 2024), while the other group received EGDM (admitted to the ICU between February 2024 and June 2024). The capacity of mobility (Medical Research Council (MRC)), length of ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, complication, and mortality at ICU discharge. The capacity of mobility was increased (MRC 37.67 ± 10.00 in EGDM vs. 29.67 ± 8.84 in EM, p < 0.001), the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay is shorter Mechanical ventilation time 6.19 ± 3.03 in EGDM vs. 9.64 ± 3.05 in EM, p < 0.001; ICU stay 310.44 ± 3.92 in EGDM vs. 15.47 ± 4.38 in EM, p < 0.001). The implementation of EGDM in the ICU improved mobilization, increased muscle strength, and shortened the duration of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation. Additionally, EGDM improved the clinical outcomes of patients.