Early Mobilization in Critically Ill Patients with Cancer: A Scoping Review

BackgroundCritically ill patients with active malignancy increasingly survive intensive care unit admissions but remain at risk of profound deconditioning and functional decline. Early mobilization has demonstrated benefits in general intensive care unit populations; however, oncology-specific evidence remains limited.ObjectiveTo map and synthesize the available evidence on early mobilization interventions in adult and pediatric oncology ICU patients, focusing on feasibility, safety, functional outcomes, quality of life, length of stay, and mortality.MethodFollowing PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, OTseeker, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Studies published between 2010 and 2025 were eligible if they included adult or pediatric intensive care patients with active malignancy who received early mobilization interventions during ICU admission.ResultsEight studies met inclusion criteria. Early mobilization was consistently reported as feasible and safe, with no serious mobilization related adverse events. Most studies described improvements in functional participation or mobility, although outcome measures were heterogeneous and frequently descriptive. Evidence regarding length of stay, quality of life, and mortality was limited and inconsistent. The literature was derived predominantly from adult oncology intensive care unit populations, with limited pediatric data, which focused primarily on feasibility and process-related outcomes.ConclusionEarly mobilization appears to be a feasible and safe practice in oncology ICU settings and is commonly reported alongside improvements in functional participation. However, evidence supporting benefits in length of stay, quality of life, or survival remains limited, highlighting the need for higher-quality comparative studies.