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Comment
. 2009;13(6):1002.
doi: 10.1186/cc8143. Epub 2009 Nov 9.

Weakness in the ICU: a call to action

Robert D Stevens  1 , Nicholas Hart, Bernard de Jonghe, Tarek Sharshar
Affiliations
Comment

Weakness in the ICU: a call to action

Robert D Stevens et al. Crit Care. 2009.

Abstract

Muscle weakness is prevalent in critically ill patients and can have a dramatic effect on short- and long-term outcomes, yet there are currently no interventions with proven efficacy in preventing or treating this complication. In a new randomized trial, researchers found that serial electrical muscle stimulation significantly mitigated ultrasound-defined muscle atrophy, and the treatment was not linked to adverse effects. Although preliminary, these results, together with other recent studies, indicate a paradigm shift to a proactive approach in managing neuromuscular complications in the ICU.

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References

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