Progression of Rehabilitation During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Insights from a Retrospective ICU Study

Highlight

• Active rehabilitation during ECMO support often begins within the first two weeks of ICU admission.
• Patients bridged to transplantation (BTT) receive the highest frequency of rehabilitation sessions compared to those bridged to recovery or those who died on ECMO waitlist.
• Edge-of-bed sitting is generally achievable and maintained throughout the ECMO duration, including durations beyond four weeks.
• Physical activity levels tend to be maintained through decannulation and improve afterward among ICU survivors.

Study Background