CompletedNot Applicable

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Muscle Mass and Strength in Critically Ill Patients After Cardiothoracic Surgery

54 participantsStarted 2011-05

Plain-language summary

The purposes of this study are 1) to determine whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is effective in preventing loss of muscle mass and strength and 2) to observe the time variation of MLT and strength from preoperative day to hospital discharge.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * patients before/after cardiothoracic surgery * ICU stay \> 48 hours Exclusion Criteria: * body mass index \> 40 kg/m2 * severe leg swelling * implanted ventricular assist device (RVAD, LVAD, BiVAD) * implanted intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) * neuromuscular diseases * skin lesions in stimulation area * leg excluded if implant (hip or knee replacement) in stimulation area

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Muscle layer thickness (MLT)

Timeframe: on preoperative day, from postoperative day 1 onwards every other ICU day for the duration of the ICU stay (expected average of ICU stay: 7 days) and at day of hospital discharge (expected average of hospital stay: 20 days)

Muscle strength

Timeframe: on preoperative day, from postoperative day 1 onwards every day for the duration of the ICU stay (expected average of ICU stay: 7 days), at day of hospital discharge (expected average of hospital stay: 20 days)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02391103

SponsorMedical University of Vienna

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2012-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation trials