Chart 1. Characteristics of the selected randomized clinical trials focusing on neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in the critically ill patient.
| Author | Sample characteristics | Intervention | Primary outcome variables | Significant results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanotti et al.(17) | n=24 (GE: 12; CG: 12) | EG: active exercises and NMES in LLs (30 minutes) | PMS and days necessary for transfer from bed to chair | Increase in PMS in both groups, more expressive in the EG; the EG was able to transfer from bed to chair in fewer days |
| chronic COPD, undergoing IMV, bed-ridden for more than 30 days, with severe peripheral atrophy | ||||
| CG: only active exercises; | ||||
| Time: 5 times a week during 4 weeks | ||||
| Gerovasili et al.(18) | n=26 (EG: 13; CG: 13) | EG: daily sessions of NMES in LLs (55 minutes) | Muscle diameter by ultrasonography | Decrease in muscle diameter of femoral quadriceps in both groups, with smaller reduction in the EG |
| ICU patients, undergoing IMV, with APACHE II ≥ 13 | ||||
| CG: not specified | ||||
| Time: from 2nd to 9th day in ICU | ||||
| Gruther et al.(19) | n=33 (EG: 16; CG: 17) | EG: early NMES (30-60 minutes) with time of hospital stay >1 week; and late with hospital stay <2 weeks; | Muscle diameter of the femoral quadriceps by ultrasonography | Thickness of the muscle layer decreased in both groups of early NMES. In the late NMES group, there was an increase in muscle mass |
| ICU patients, stratified into 2 groups: early and late | ||||
| CG: placebo | ||||
| Time: 5 times a week for 4 weeks | ||||
| Poulsen et al.(20) | n=8 Patients admitted to the ICU with septic shock, undergoing IMV | Unilateral NMES (60 min) with contralateral thigh as paired control associated with conventional physical therapy Time: 7 consecutive days | Assessment of muscle mass by computed tomography of the thigh | There was no difference between baseline and post-NMES values in muscle volume between the stimulated and non-stimulated sides |
| Tempo: 7 dias consecutivos |
EG: experimental group; CG: control group; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IMV: invasive mechanical ventilation; LLs: lower limbs; PMS: peripheral muscle strength; ICU: intensive care unit; APACHE II: Acute Physiology and Health Evaluation II.