Enhancing rehabilitation of mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit: A quality improvement project

Purpose:Prolonged periods of mechanical ventilation are associated with significant physical and psychosocialadverse effects. Despite increasing evidence supporting early rehabilitation strategies, uptake and delivery ofsuch interventions in Europe have been variable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of anearly and enhanced rehabilitation program for mechanically ventilated patients in a large tertiary referral,mixed-population intensive care unit (ICU).Method:A new supportive rehabilitation team was created within the ICU in April 2012, with a focus on promotingearly and enhanced rehabilitation for patients at high riskfor prolonged ICU and hospital stays. Baseline data on allpatients invasively ventilated for at least 5 days in the previous 12 months (n = 290) were compared with all pa-tients ventilated for at least 5 days in the 12 months after the introduction of the rehabilitation team (n = 292).The main outcome measures were mobility level at ICU discharge (assessed via the Manchester Mobility Score),mean ICU, and post-ICU length of stay (LOS), ventilator days, and in-hospital mortality.Results:The introduction of the ICU rehabilitation team was associated with a significant increase in mobility at ICU dis-charge, and this was associated with a significant reduction in ICU LOS (16.9 vs 14.4 days,P= .007), ventilator days(11.7 vs 9.3 days,Pb.05), total hospital LOS (35.3 vs 30.1 days,Pb.001), and in-hospital mortality (39% vs 28%,Pb.05).Conclusion:A quality improvement strategy to promote early and enhanced rehabilitation within this European ICU im-proved levels of mobility at critical care discharge, and this was associated with reduced ICU and hospital LOS and re-duced days of mechanical ventilation.