Mobilization With Femoral Catheters in the Burn ICU: A Retrospective Review Following Change in Practice Guidelines

Femoral catheters are commonly viewed as a barrier to Burn ICU mobility progression due to anatomical location and potential risk of complications. The purpose of this review was to examine outcomes and complication rates following implementation of femoral catheter mobilization guidelines, as well as determine safety and feasibility of mobilization with femoral catheters in place within the burn population. A retrospective review was completed on 17 patients prior to and following the implementation of new femoral catheter mobility guidelines, 34 patients total. Burn therapy notes were reviewed for burn admissions with at least 1 femoral catheter in place, including arterial, central, and dialysis catheters. Demographic data, admission statistics, line placement timelines, and active mobility achieved during therapy sessions were recorded for both the nonmobilization group (NMG) and mobilization group (MG). The 34 patients reviewed had 99 total lines placed (30 NMG, 69 MG). Change in mobility protocols for the MG resulted in more therapy sessions (n = 516 vs 281) and a significant increase in active mobility sessions (n = 83 vs 5, P < .001), including 146 total mobility activities such as transitions to chairs, tilt table, sitting edge of bed, standing, active chair transfers, ambulation, and cycle ergometry. No catheter-associated adverse events occurred during active mobility sessions and no complications were associated with participation in mobility. This review supports that the presence of femoral catheters alone should not limit the progression of mobility interventions with the use of clinical judgment in specialty-trained burn therapists.