Authors:
- Iva Marincel Antolović, mag.physioth.- University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, Department for Intensive Care of Patients 1, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia
- Iva Mikolić, bacc.physioth.- University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, Department for Intensive Care of Patients 1, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia
- Sonja Kamber, bacc.physioth. -University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, Department for Intensive Care of Patients 1, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia
- Mia Hrlec, bacc.physioth. -University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Clinic for Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Management, Department for Intensive Care of Patients 1, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Introduction
Early physical therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) is crucial for minimizing complications of prolonged hospitalization and shortening the length of stay in the ICU. Therefore, physiotherapists at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management at the Clinical Hospital Centre in Rijeka have been working 12-hour shifts since February 1, 2022. This study aims to present the effectiveness of physiotherapy by comparing two periods – 8-hour and 12-hour shift periods – specifically comparing length of stay and the number of verticalized patients.
Materials and Methods
The study was conducted on a sample of 1326 patients hospitalized in the ICU between February 1, 2021, and January 31, 2023. Of these, 437 patients were included in further analysis.
Results
The average age of patients was 59 years, and 71.17% were male. The most common primary diagnosis on admission was acute respiratory failure (16.02%), while the most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (67.96%). There was no statistically significant difference in length of stay between the two periods compared. However, patients were weaned from invasive mechanical ventilation earlier (by 13.58%) and were verticalized more frequently before discharge.
Conclusion
Early physical therapy and respiratory rehabilitation are extremely important because they shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of stay in the ICU, minimizing complications of prolonged hospitalization. Twelve-hour shifts allow continuous work and monitoring of patients by physiotherapists, as well as rehabilitation tailored to the general condition and course of treatment.
Keywords:
physical therapy, early rehabilitation, respiratory physi
otherapy, verticalization