Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40949940›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of cardiology2025

Early mobilization in patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A scoping review.

Vasiliki Kanellou, Konstantinos Kaliarntas, Despoina Myrto Dounavi, Irini Patsaki, Dimitrios Kalpaxis, Christos Kourek, Stavros Dimopoulos

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Article in World journal of cardiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vasiliki KanellouDepartment of Physiotherapy, General Hospital of Nikea, Nikea 18450, Attikí, Greece.
Konstantinos KaliarntasDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Patras, Patra 26334, Dytikí Elláda, Greece.
Despoina Myrto DounaviDepartment of Physiotherapy, Asklipeio Voulas Hospital, Voula 16673, Attikí, Greece.
Irini PatsakiDepartment of Physiotherapy, University of West Attika, Aigaleo 12243, Attikí, Greece.
Dimitrios KalpaxisDepartment of Physiotherapy, Central Clinic, Athens 10680, Attikí, Greece.
Christos KourekDepartment of Clinical Ergospirometry, Exercise and Rehabilitation Laboratory, The First Critical Care Medicine Department, Evangelismos Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens 10676, Attikí, Greece.
Stavros DimopoulosCardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens 17674, Attikí, Greece. stdimop@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is mainly applied to patients with significant cardiorespiratory failure who do not respond to existing conventional treatments. Patients that are supported with veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) are considered very-high risk patients to participate in any type of physical therapy (PT) or mobilization. However, cumulative evidence suggests that early mobilization of critically ill patients is feasible, safe, and efficient under certain circumstances.

aimTo summarize the existing evidence on the impact of early mobilization and physiotherapy on VA-ECMO patients.

methodsThis is a scoping review that used systematic electronic literature searches (from inception until January 2025) on MEDLINE (PubMed), PEDro, DynaMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Science direct and Hellenic Academic Libraries. Snowball searching method was also applied. Eligible studies included those reporting patients on VA-ECMO who participated in early mobilization or PT, published in English and utilized any primary evidence study design. Studies on children, animals and patients placed on any other ECMO, secondary evidence, and 'grey' literature were excluded.

resultsA total of 316 articles were retrieved and 13 were included in the study. Of those, 1 study was a randomized control trial, 4 retrospective studies, 4 retrospective cohort studies, 1 case series and 3 case reports. The sample size of the included studies ranged from 1 to 104 VA-ECMO patients, who were ambulated or received PT interventions, and mobilization frequency ranged from 2 per day to 4 per week. Mobilization of VA-ECMO patients seems to be safe regardless the cannula's position. PT and early mobilization were associated with better weaning from mechanical ventilation, gradual reduction of inotropes and functional capacity improvement after ECMO discharge.

conclusionEarly mobilization in VA-ECMO seems to be safe and can potentially help reduce vasoconstrictors and speed up rehabilitation times. High quality research on early mobilization in VA-ECMO patients is warranted.

Indexed as

Early ambulationEarly mobilizationExtracorporeal membrane oxygenationPhysical therapyPhysiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40949940
PMCPMC12426996

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