title: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation as a possible means to prevent muscle tissue wasting in artificially ventilated and sedated patients in the intensive care unit: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore if electrical stimulation could prevent muscle atrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were hospitalized for postoperative coronary artery bypass graftin, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ventilatory failure, or acute cerebro-vascular accident, and were divided into an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group underwent daily 30 minute training with an intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the right quadriceps muscle. Heart rate, respiration rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were monitored before, during, and after electrical stimulation. Circumference of both thighs was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention resulted in a significant reduction of muscle atrophy in the stimulated as compared with the non-stimulated limb (p < 0.05), without making any impact on cardiovascular, respiratory and, hemodynamic characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Muscle atrophy is prevented by intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation while this intervention showed no obvious impact on the cardio-respiratory conditions of the patients.
authors: REVAL Research Group, Department of Health Care Sciences, PHL University College, Hasselt, Belgium. raf.meesen@phl.be
authors: Raf L J
authors: RL
authors: Meesen
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Dendale
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Cuypers
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Berger
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Hermans
authors: Herbert
authors: H
authors: Thijs
authors: Oron
authors: O
authors: Levin