Assessing the impact of early progressive mobilization on moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of neurodisability worldwide, with notably high disability rates among moderately severe TBI cases. Extensive previous research emphasizes the critical need for early initiation of rehabilitation interventions for these cases. However, the optimal timing and methodology of early mobilization in TBI remain to be conclusively determined. Therefore, we explored the impact of early progressive mobilization (EPM) protocols on the functional outcomes of ICU-admitted patients with moderate to severe TBI. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a trauma ICU of a medical center; 65 patients were randomly assigned to either the EPM group or the early progressive upright positioning (EPUP) group. The EPM group received early out-of-bed mobilization therapy within seven days after injury, while the EPUP group underwent early in-bed upright position rehabilitation. The primary outcome was the Perme ICU Mobility Score and secondary outcomes included Functional Independence Measure motor domain (FIM-motor) score, phase angle (PhA), skeletal muscle index (SMI), the length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and duration of ventilation. RESULTS: Among 65 randomized patients, 33 were assigned to EPM and 32 to EPUP group. The EPM group significantly outperformed the EPUP group in the Perme ICU Mobility and FIM-motor scores, with a notably shorter ICU stay by 5.9 days (p < 0.001) and ventilation duration by 6.7 days (p = 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in PhAs. CONCLUSION: The early progressive out-of-bed mobilization protocol can enhance mobility and functional outcomes and shorten ICU stay and ventilation duration of patients with moderate-to-severe TBI. Our study's results support further investigation of EPM through larger, randomized clinical trials. Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04810273 . Registered 13 March 2021.

Changes to rehabilitation after total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: General practitioners play a vital and increasing part in the perioperative care of patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR). Rising obesity rates, sports-related injuries and an ageing population are likely to result in a sharp increase in TKR procedures within the next decade, combined with higher cost concerns. Rehabilitation practices that show economic efficiency and produce superior patient outcomes are a major focus of current research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide an evidence-based summary of current rapid recovery protocols following TKR surgery. DISCUSSION: Rapid recovery protocols have been shown to be effective at reducing length of stay, postoperative pain and complications without compromising patient safety. These rapid recovery protocols include same-day mobilisation; blood preservation protocols; self-directed pedalling-based rehabilitation; and individualised targeted discharge to self-directed, outpatient therapist-directed or inpatient therapist-directed rehabilitation. Low-cost self-directed rehabilitation should be considered usual care, with inpatient rehabilitation reserved for the minority of at-risk patients.

Mepivacaine versus Bupivacaine Spinal Anesthesia for Early Postoperative Ambulation.

BACKGROUND: Early ambulation after total hip arthroplasty predicts early discharge. Spinal anesthesia is preferred by many practices but can delay ambulation, especially with bupivacaine. Mepivacaine, an intermediate-acting local anesthetic, could enable earlier ambulation than bupivacaine. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that patients who received mepivacaine would ambulate earlier than those who received hyperbaric or isobaric bupivacaine for primary total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I to III patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. The patients were randomized 1:1:1 to 52.5 mg of mepivacaine, 11.25 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine, or 12.5 mg of isobaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. The primary outcome was ambulation between 3 and 3.5 h. Secondary outcomes included return of motor and sensory function, postoperative pain, opioid consumption, transient neurologic symptoms, urinary retention, intraoperative hypotension, intraoperative muscle tension, same-day discharge, length of stay, and 30-day readmissions. RESULTS: Of 154 patients, 50 received mepivacaine, 53 received hyperbaric bupivacaine, and 51 received isobaric bupivacaine. Patient characteristics were similar among groups. For ambulation at 3 to 3.5 h, 35 of 50 (70.0%) of patients met this endpoint in the mepivacaine group, followed by 20 of 53 (37.7%) in the hyperbaric bupivacaine group, and 9 of 51 (17.6%) in the isobaric bupivacaine group (P < 0.001). Return of motor function occurred earlier with mepivacaine. Pain and opioid consumption were higher for mepivacaine patients in the early postoperative period only. For ambulatory status, 23 of 50 (46.0%) of mepivacaine, 13 of 53 (24.5%) of hyperbaric bupivacaine, and 11 of 51 (21.5%) of isobaric bupivacaine patients had same-day discharge (P = 0.014). Length of stay was shortest in mepivacaine patients. There were no differences in transient neurologic symptoms, urinary retention, hypotension, muscle tension, or dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: Mepivacaine patients ambulated earlier and were more likely to be discharged the same day than both hyperbaric bupivacaine and isobaric bupivacaine patients. Mepivacaine could be beneficial for outpatient total hip arthroplasty candidates if spinal is the preferred anesthesia type.

Bed rest: outdated following traumatic solid organ injury?

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aimed to evaluate early ambulation protocols implemented for traumatic solid organ injury. METHODS: The electronic databases PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Embase and Cochrane Library were searched without time constraint to identify prospective and retrospective analyses, randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series that investigated early ambulation in solid organ trauma. RESULTS: Six studies met the predefined inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Three studies investigated early ambulation protocols in direct comparison with bed rest. The remaining three studies were early ambulation case series. In all studies there was no convincing evidence to suggest differences in clinical outcomes between early ambulation and bed rest protocols. In all studies early ambulation resulted in a reduced length of hospitalisation and decreased cost to national healthcare services. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review has found preliminary evidence that suggests bed rest has no clinical benefit in those with low-grade to mid-grade (grades 1-2) solid organ injury. Further studies are required to inform guidance to improve trauma patient outcomes.

Effect of time to first ambulation on recurrence after PELD.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of time to first ambulation on recurrence after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). METHODS: From July 2017 to August 2018, 90 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation underwent PELD surgery. According to the initial walking time, i.e., the time until the patient could walk after the operation, the operations were divided into three groups: early stage, middle stage, and late stage. The follow-up period was 3 months, and complete follow-up data were obtained. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores before the operation, at first ambulation, 1 month after the operation, and 3 months after the operation and the recurrence and incidence rates of high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal in the vertebral endplate area were recorded after the operation. RESULTS: The success rate was 100% for these 90 cases. The VAS and ODI scores at the first ambulation after the operation significantly improved compared with those before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant. The improvements in the lumbar VAS and ODI scores of the middle- and late-stage groups were better than that of the early-stage group at 1 and 3 months after the operation, and the differences were statistically significant; however, there was no significant difference between the middle- and late-stage groups. The postoperative recurrence rate and rate of high MRI signal in the vertebral endplate area were significantly higher in the early-stage group than in the other two groups, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The time to first ambulation after PELD is an important factor affecting the curative effect of the operation. Early ambulation may be one of the factors affecting recurrence after PELD.

Nurse-Led Mobility Program: Driving a Culture of Early Mobilization in Medical-Surgical Nursing.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized medical-surgical patients are at risk for adverse health outcomes due to immobility. Despite well-documented consequences, low mobility is prevalent. LOCAL PROBLEM: In a 547-bed hospital, medical-surgical patients were mobilized less frequently than expected. Physical therapists were inappropriately consulted 22% of the time for routine mobility of patients. A preimplementation survey of registered nurses indicated a lack of knowledge and confidence to safely mobilize patients. METHODS: This quality improvement project implemented a nurse-led mobility program in an effort to increase early mobilization, reduce physical therapy referrals for routine mobility, and reduce the sequelae of immobility. INTERVENTIONS: The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool and standardized interventions were implemented on 5 medical-surgical units. RESULTS: Postimplementation, nurse-led patient mobilizations increased by 40%, inappropriate physical therapy orders decreased 14%, and no significant change in patient falls or pressure injuries was noted. CONCLUSION: A nurse-led mobility program was effective in increasing safe, early mobilization of patients and improving the culture of mobility.

Can the effects of the mobilization of vulnerable elders in Ontario (MOVE ON) implementation be replicated in new settings: an interrupted time series design.

BACKGROUND: Bed rest for older hospitalized patients places them at risk for hospital-acquired morbidity. We previously evaluated an early mobilization intervention and found it to be effective at improving mobilization rates and decreasing length of stay on internal medicine units. The aim of this study was to conduct a replication study evaluating the impact of the evidence-informed mobilization intervention on surgery, psychiatry, medicine, and cardiology inpatient units. METHODS: A multi-component early mobilization intervention was tailored to the local context at seven hospitals in Ontario, Canada. The primary outcome was patient mobilization measured by conducting visual audits twice a week, three times a day. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay and discharge destination, which were obtained from hospital decision support data. The study population was patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted to surgery, psychiatry, medicine, and cardiology inpatient units between March and August 2014. Using an interrupted time series design, the intervention was evaluated over three time periods-pre-intervention, during, and post-intervention. RESULTS: A total of 3098 patients [mean age 78.46 years (SD 8.38)] were included in the overall analysis. There was a significant increase in mobility immediately after the intervention period compared to pre-intervention with a slope change of 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-3.08, P-value = 0.0014). A decreasing trend in median length of stay was observed in the majority of the participating sites. Overall, a median length of stay of 26.24 days (95% CI 23.67-28.80) was observed pre-intervention compared to 23.81 days (95% CI 20.13-27.49) during the intervention and 24.69 days (95% CI 22.43-26.95) post-intervention. The overall decrease in median length of stay was associated with the increase in mobility across the sites. CONCLUSIONS: MOVE increased mobilization and these results were replicated across surgery, psychiatry, medicine, and cardiology inpatient units.

Validation of an extrinsic compression and early ambulation protocol after diagnostic transfemoral cerebral angiography: a 5-year prospective series.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Access-site complications constitute a substantial portion of the morbidity associated with transfemoral cerebral angiography, yet no standardized protocol exists for femoral closure and practice patterns vary widely. The objective of this single-arm prospective cohort study was to validate the efficacy and safety of a standardized femoral closure strategy for all diagnostic angiography, regardless of antiplatelet regimen. METHODS: A single-arm, prospective study was designed enrolling consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic transfemoral cerebral angiography by a single neurointerventional surgeon from March 2013 - March 2018. The closure protocol consisted of 20 minutes of manual compression to the site of arterial access and 2 hours of bedrest. The primary outcome was hematoma or oozing after manual compression. Demographic, clinic, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed, and patients were stratified by antiplatelet use. RESULTS: Of 525 angiograms, 263 (50.1%) were on patients taking antiplatelet medication, with 66 (12.6%) on dual antiplatelet regimens. Five patients (0.95% of all patients) met the primary outcome: in all five cases, there was no further oozing or enlarging hematoma after the additional compression period. There were not significant differences in primary outcome in groups stratified by antiplatelet use, and there were no instances of delayed hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, or arteriovenous fistula. CONCLUSION: In this single-arm cohort study of 525 consecutive transfemoral angiograms with a standardized extrinsic compression protocol, hemostasis was achieved without complication in >99% regardless of antiplatelet strategy. This protocol is effective and safe for diagnostic transfemoral angiography regardless of a patient's antiplatelet use.

Current Trends in Practice for Early Mobility with the Burn Population.

There is a clinical trend toward "early mobilization" of patients with burn injury, however mobility is not well defined in burn care. Burn injuries result in various extents of injury, body areas affected, and types of skin graft surgeries needed-all of which may influence the type, timing, safety, and outcome of mobilization activities. This study surveyed burn clinicians to determine current mobility practices and the influence of skin graft surgery on clinical decisions to mobilize patients. A 32-question survey was electronically distributed to burn clinicians and included questions about postoperative range of motion (ROM) and out of bed (OOB) mobility practices for various skin graft types and locations. For all types of grafts on all body locations, the average time after skin graft surgery that patients resumed ROM activities was postoperative day (POD) 3.87 (±2.04) while OOB mobility resumed on POD 2.54 (±1.38). There was significantly greater variability for OOB mobility compared to ROM (coefficient of variation [CV] 0.71 ± 0.8 vs 0.5 ± 0.05). Time to postoperative ROM was significantly different depending on the type of skin graft placed with sheet skin grafts resuming ROM the earliest. Time to OOB mobility after surgery was significantly different for different body locations with grafts placed above the waist resuming OOB mobility earliest. This study provides a summary of current mobility practices and serves as a foundation for future studies investigating the optimal timing and practical application of mobility protocols that may influence safety and outcome of burn survivors.

Does implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery program for hip replacement improve quality of recovery in an Australian private hospital: a quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery programs may improve recovery and reduce duration of hospital stay after joint replacement surgery. However, uptake is incomplete, and the relative importance of program components is unknown. This before-and-after quality improvement study was designed to determine whether adding 'non-surgical' components, to pre-existing 'surgical' components, in an Australian private healthcare setting, would improve patient recovery after total hip replacement. METHODS: We prospectively collected data regarding care processes and health outcomes of 115 consecutive patients undergoing hip replacement with a single surgeon in a private hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Based on this data, a multidisciplinary team (surgeon, anesthetists, nurse unit managers, physiotherapists, perioperative physician) chose and implemented 12 'non-surgical' program components. Identical data were collected from a further 115 consecutive patients. The primary outcome measure was Quality of Recovery-15 score at 6 weeks postoperatively; the linear regression model was adjusted for baseline group differences. RESULTS: The majority of health outcomes, including the primary outcome measure, were similar in pre- and post-implementation groups (quality of recovery score, pain rating and disability score, at time-points up to six weeks postoperatively). The proportion of patients with zero oral morphine equivalent consumption at six weeks increased from 57 to 80% (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13, 1.58). Mean (SD) length of hospital stay decreased from 5.94 (5.21) to 5.02 (2.46) days but was not statistically significant once adjusted for baseline group differences. Four of ten measurable program components were successfully implemented. Antiemetic prophylaxis increased by 53% (risk ratio [RR] 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16, 2.02). Tranexamic acid use increased by 41% (RR 95% CI 1.18, 1.68). Postoperative physiotherapy treatment on the day of surgery increased by 87% (RR 95% CI 1.36, 2.59). Postoperative patient mobilisation ≥ three metres on the day of surgery increased by 151% (RR 95% CI 1.27, 4.97). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a full enhanced recovery after surgery program, and optimal choice of program components, remains a challenge. Improved implementation of non-surgical components of a program may further reduce duration of acute hospital stay, while maintaining quality of recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12615001170516 ), 2.11.2015 (retrospective).

Recent evidence on early mobilization in critical-Ill patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the benefits of early mobilization and summarize the results of most recent clinical studies examining early mobilization in critically ill patients followed by a presentation of recent developments in the field. RECENT FINDINGS: Early mobilization of ICU patients, defined as mobilization within 72 h of ICU admission, is still uncommon. In medical and surgical critically ill patients, mobilization is well tolerated even in intubated patients. In neurocritical care, evidence to support early mobilization is either lacking (aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage), or the results are inconsistent (e.g. stroke). Successful implementation of early mobilization requires a cultural change; preferably based on an interprofessional approach with clearly defined responsibilities and including a mobilization scoring system. Although the evidence for the majority of the technical tools is still limited, the use of a bed cycle ergometer and a treadmill with strap system has been promising in smaller trials. SUMMARY: Early mobilization is well tolerated and feasible, resulting in improved outcomes in surgical and medical ICU patients. Implementation of early mobilization can be challenging and may need a cultural change anchored in an interprofessional approach and integrated in a patient-centered bundle. Scoring systems should be integrated to define daily goals and used to verify patients' achievements or identify barriers immediately.

Early Ambulation Is Crucial for Improving Patient Health.

Helping post-op patients move as soon as possible should be a clinical priority.

Early, goal-directed mobilisation in the surgical intensive care unit: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Immobilisation predicts adverse outcomes in patients in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Attempts to mobilise critically ill patients early after surgery are frequently restricted, but we tested whether early mobilisation leads to improved mobility, decreased SICU length of stay, and increased functional independence of patients at hospital discharge. METHODS: We did a multicentre, international, parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial in SICUs of five university hospitals in Austria (n=1), Germany (n=1), and the USA (n=3). Eligible patients (aged 18 years or older, who had been mechanically ventilated for <48 h, and were expected to require mechanical ventilation for ≥24 h) were randomly assigned (1:1) by use of a stratified block randomisation via restricted web platform to standard of care (control) or early, goal-directed mobilisation using an inter-professional approach of closed-loop communication and the SICU optimal mobilisation score (SOMS) algorithm (intervention), which describes patients' mobilisation capacity on a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 (no mobilisation) to 4 (ambulation). We had three main outcomes hierarchically tested in a prespecified order: the mean SOMS level patients achieved during their SICU stay (primary outcome), and patient's length of stay on SICU and the mini-modified functional independence measure score (mmFIM) at hospital discharge (both secondary outcomes). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01363102). FINDINGS: Between July 1, 2011, and Nov 4, 2015, we randomly assigned 200 patients to receive standard treatment (control; n=96) or intervention (n=104). Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the intervention improved the mobilisation level (mean achieved SOMS 2·2 [SD 1·0] in intervention group vs 1·5 [0·8] in control group, p<0·0001), decreased SICU length of stay (mean 7 days [SD 5-12] in intervention group vs 10 days [6-15] in control group, p=0·0054), and improved functional mobility at hospital discharge (mmFIM score 8 [4-8] in intervention group vs 5 [2-8] in control group, p=0·0002). More adverse events were reported in the intervention group (25 cases [2·8%]) than in the control group (ten cases [0·8%]); no serious adverse events were observed. Before hospital discharge 25 patients died (17 [16%] in the intervention group, eight [8%] in the control group). 3 months after hospital discharge 36 patients died (21 [22%] in the intervention group, 15 [17%] in the control group). INTERPRETATION: Early, goal-directed mobilisation improved patient mobilisation throughout SICU admission, shortened patient length of stay in the SICU, and improved patients' functional mobility at hospital discharge. FUNDING: Jeffrey and Judy Buzen.

Early Mobilization and Rehabilitation in the ICU: Moving Back to the Future.

Despite the historical precedent of mobilizing critically ill patients, bed rest is common practice in ICUs worldwide, especially for mechanically ventilated patients. ICU-acquired weakness is an increasingly recognized problem, with sequelae that may last for months and years following ICU discharge. The combination of critical illness and bed rest results in substantial muscle wasting during an ICU stay. When initiated shortly after the start of mechanical ventilation, mobilization and rehabilitation can play an important role in decreasing the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay and improving patients' return to functional independence. This review summarizes recent evidence supporting the safety, feasibility, and benefits of early mobilization and rehabilitation of mechanically ventilated patients and presents a brief summary of future directions for this field.

Early Mobilization of Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation are least likely to be mobilized and, as a result, are at-risk for prolonged complications from weakness. The use of bed rest and sedation when caring for mechanically ventilated patients is likely shaped by historical practice; however, this review demonstrates early mobilization, with little to no sedation, is possible and safe. Assessing readiness for mobilization in context of progressing patients from passive to active activities can lead to long-term benefits and has been achievable with resource-efficient implementations and team work.

Influência da deambulação precoce no tempo de internação hospitalar no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca / Influence of early ambulation in postoperative hospitalization following cardiac surgery

Fundamentos: Apesar do avanço tecnológico que visa a prolongar a qualidade de vida de pacientes submetidos acirurgia cardíaca, esse procedimento ainda é considerado de alta complexidade. A deambulação precoce é uma alternativa para melhorar a capacidade pulmonar, o condicionamento cardiovascular e o aumento do desempenho funcional. Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto da deambulação precoce sobre o tempo de internação na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e hospitalar em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado com 49 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca e admitidos na UTI, no período de outubro de 2014 a abril de 2015. Os pacientes foram estratificados em dois grupos: com e semdeambulação precoce. Deambulação precoce definida como o ato de caminhar até o terceiro dia de internação na UTI. Análise estatística realizada para verificar a existência de modificações no tempo de permanência hospitalare UTI entre os dois grupos de deambulação.Resultados: Foram estudados 49 pacientes, dos quais 55,1% homens, média de idade 55,2±13,9 anos, internados na UTI em decorrência de cirurgia cardíaca no período do estudo. Não se observou correlação estatística entre o ato de deambular precocemente com o tempo de permanência na UTI cardíaca (3,0±1,5 dias vs. 2,8±1,1 dias, p=0,819) e hospitalar (5,4±3,3 dias vs. 5,3±2,6 dias, p=0,903).Conclusão: A deambulação precoce não se associou a um menor tempo de permanência na UTI ou hospitalar.

Background: Despite the technological advances aimed to extend the quality of life of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, such procedure is still deemed a highly complex intervention. Early ambulation is an alternative to improve lung capacity, cardiovascular fitness and increased functional performance. Objective: Assess the impact of early ambulation on the length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital, for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 49 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and admitted to the ICU from October 2014 to April 2015. Patients were stratified into two groups: with and without early ambulation. Early ambulation is the act of walking up to the third day of ICU admission. Statistical analysis performed to check for changes in the length of stay in ICU and in hospital between the two groups of ambulation. Results: The study observed 49 patients (55.1% men) with mean age of 55.2±13.9 years, admitted to the ICU due to cardiac surgery carried out during the study period. No statistical correlation was found between early ambulation and the length of stay in cardiac ICU (3.0±1.5 days vs. 2.8±1.1 days, p=0.819) and in hospital (5.4±3.3 days vs. 5.3±2.6 days, p=0.903).Conclusion: Early ambulation is not related to a shorter length of stay in ICU or in hospital.

Early mobilization and recovery in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU: a bi-national, multi-centre, prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate current mobilization practice, strength at ICU discharge and functional recovery at 6 months among mechanically ventilated ICU patients. METHOD: This was a prospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in twelve ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. Patients were previously functionally independent and expected to be ventilated for >48 hours. We measured mobilization during invasive ventilation, sedation depth using the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS), co-interventions, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) at ICU discharge, mortality at day 90, and 6-month functional recovery including return to work. RESULTS: We studied 192 patients (mean age 58.1 ± 15.8 years; mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) (IQR) II score, 18.0 (14 to 24)). Mortality at day 90 was 26.6% (51/192). Over 1,351 study days, we collected information during 1,288 planned early mobilization episodes in patients on mechanical ventilation for the first 14 days or until extubation (whichever occurred first). We recorded the highest level of early mobilization. Despite the presence of dedicated physical therapy staff, no mobilization occurred in 1,079 (84%) of these episodes. Where mobilization occurred, the maximum levels of mobilization were exercises in bed (N = 94, 7%), standing at the bed side (N = 11, 0.9%) or walking (N = 26, 2%). On day three, all patients who were mobilized were mechanically ventilated via an endotracheal tube (N = 10), whereas by day five 50% of the patients mobilized were mechanically ventilated via a tracheostomy tube (N = 18). CONCLUSIONS: Early mobilization of patients receiving mechanical ventilation was uncommon. More than 50% of patients discharged from the ICU had developed ICU-acquired weakness, which was associated with death between ICU discharge and day-90. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01674608. Registered 14 August 2012.