Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Mechanical Ventilation Boot Camp Curriculum
Published on: March 12, 2018
Early Active Mobilization during Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU.
, Carol L Hodgson1, Michael Bailey1
1From the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (C.L.H., M.B., R.B., T.B., A.M.H., A.S.N., A.D.N., J.J.P., J.S., S.W., P.J.Y.), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (B.J.G.), Monash University, the Data Analytics Research and Evaluation Centre, University of Melbourne and Austin Hospital (R.B., A.S.N.), the Department of Critical Care (C.L.H., R.B., A.S.N., J.J.P., P.J.Y.) and the School of Medicine (J.J.P.), University of Melbourne, the Department of Intensive Care (A.D.N.) and the Intensive Care Unit and Physiotherapy Department (C.L.H., C.J.T.), Alfred Hospital, and the Department of Intensive Care, Royal Melbourne Hospital (R.B., J.J.P.), Melbourne, VIC, the Critical Care Division, the George Institute for Global Health (C.L.H., A.M.H.), and Intensive Care Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (H.B.), Sydney, the Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA (M.H.), and the Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Perth Hospital (M.H.), and the Intensive Care Unit, St. John of God Subiaco Hospital (S.W.), Perth, WA - all in Australia; the Intensive Care Unit, Wellington Hospital (P.J.Y.), and the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (S.H., P.J.Y.) - both in Wellington, New Zealand; the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, and the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin - both in Germany (S.J.S); the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (T.J.I.); the Department of Medicine Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (T.J.I.); the Clinical Trials Unit, Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre, London (D.W.G.); the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo (A.S.N.); and University College Dublin-Clinical Research Centre at St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin (K.B., A.D.N.).
Early mobilization in intensive care units (ICUs) did not significantly improve survival outcomes for mechanically ventilated adults. This approach also led to a higher incidence of adverse events compared to usual care.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Rehabilitation
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness is a common complication for patients on invasive mechanical ventilation.
- Early active mobilization is hypothesized to mitigate this weakness, improve survival, and reduce disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of increased early active mobilization on survival and functional outcomes in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.
- To compare outcomes between an intensified early mobilization protocol and usual care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 750 adult ICU patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.
- Intervention group received increased early mobilization (sedation minimization, daily physiotherapy).
- Control group received usual care; primary outcome was days alive and out of hospital at 180 days.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in median days alive and out of hospital at 180 days (143 vs. 145 days).
- Increased daily active mobilization duration in the intervention group (20.8 vs. 8.8 minutes).
- Higher incidence of adverse events in the early mobilization group (9.2% vs. 4.1%).
Conclusions:
- Increased early active mobilization did not significantly improve survival outcomes for mechanically ventilated ICU adults.
- The intervention was associated with a higher rate of adverse events.
- Further research may be needed to optimize mobilization strategies and safety in this population.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Mechanical Ventilation I: Indication and Settings
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation...
Ventilatory Modes
There are three ventilatory modes: full support, partial support, and spontaneous. These are described below.
Full Support Modes
Full support modes include controlled mechanical ventilation, continuous mandatory...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV

