Physical therapy in the intensive care unit in a patient with biventricular assist device.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and feasibility of early physical therapy in the intensive care unit in a patient with biventricular assist device.

METHODS: Physical therapy started on the first postoperative day and continued till discharge including airway clearance, lower/upper extremity exercises, and mobilization. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic/diastolic/mean arterial pressures, peripheral oxygen saturation, and double product were recorded before treatment, after treatment, and 5 minutes after treatment.

RESULTS: In total, 15 sessions of physical therapy were implemented for a 41-year-old male patient during 21 days following implantation of a biventricular assist device. Normal physiological responses were seen in response to treatment. Heart rate increased significantly after treatment in comparison to pretreatment values (p = 0.02) and decreased significantly after 5 minutes (p = 0.03) and approached pretreatment values. Respiratory rate increased nonsignificantly after treatment and decreased significantly after 5 minutes (p = 0.001) and approached pretreatment values.

CONCLUSION: Physical therapy in the intensive care unit in a patient with biventricular assist device resulted in significant increases within HR and RR in physiological limits. Ongoing monitoring of vital signs is recommended in order to observe physiological responses to early physical therapeutic interventions in the intensive care unit.