Early Rehabilitation in Critically Ill Children Pilot Study

Overview

Critically ill patients are often confined to bedrest, because of the nature of their illness. However, it has now been shown that prolonged bedrest and immobility, particularly in critically ill adults and children, can lead to serious outcomes such as muscle weakness and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Research in adults has demonstrated that preventing immobility and introducing exercise and rehabilitation in adult patients early during their ICU illness can prevent these serious outcomes, reduce the duration of hospital stay, and enhance their recovery after they leave the ICU. The purpose of our research is to investigate if early mobilization and rehabilitation can also be performed in critically ill children, and eventually evaluate this results in beneficial outcomes in these children, as it has been shown to be in adults. However, given that children are not the same as adults, but have varying abilities to understand and participate in activities when they are sick, the investigators first have to evaluate the most appropriate and safe ways of helping children "exercise" while they are in the ICU. This objective of this study is to evaluate if 2 methods of rehabilitation (a stationary bike and interactive video game) can be implemented in critically ill children. These methods have been used in hospitalized children and in critically ill adults. The investigators will evaluate if these methods are safe for critically ill children.

In this prospective cohort pilot study, eligible critically ill children aged 3 to 17 years will receive in addition to their usual care, a passive and/or an active mobility intervention, depending on their level of consciousness or cognitive ability. The active intervention will consist of an interactive video game (X Box 360 Kinect), while a cycle ergometer will be used as the passive intervention. The mobility interventions will be applied for a minimum of 10 minutes on day 1, and 20 minutes on day 2. For unconscious patients, or eligible patients who cognitively impaired, the passive intervention will be applied. As soon as the patient is conscious and cooperative, the active intervention will be applied. The primary outcomes of interest in this pilot study are feasibility (defined as the ability to screen and enroll patients, consent rate and protocol adherence). Secondary outcomes of interest include safety outcomes, clinical outcomes and patient and caregiver satisfaction with the intervention.