Incorporating Safe Patient-Handling Techniques to Mobilize Our Most Complex Patients on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Crit Care Nurs Q. 2018 Jul/Sep;41(3):272-281. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000206.

Abstract

Historically, patients supported on extra corporeal membrane oxygenation were thought to be too unstable to engage in early mobility but are at increased risk for deconditioning from prolonged immobilization due to the nature of illness, numerous cannulas, equipment, and hemodynamic and respiratory instability along with heavy sedation/analgesia or paralysis. This article will discuss the specific considerations that should be employed to keep the patient and the staff safe while providing mobility to patients on extra corporeal membrane oxygenation.

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Protocols / standards*
  • Critical Care
  • Early Ambulation*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Moving and Lifting Patients / nursing*
  • Moving and Lifting Patients / standards*
  • Patient Safety*
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena