Heather Dunn

Mobilization of mechanical ventilation patients has broadened to include patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). A previous systematic review outlined methodological flaws in the literature. The purpose of this integrative review is to evaluate existing publications to determine if mobilization interventions in PMV patients improve physical function, weaning rates, pulmonary mechanics, and hospital outcomes. An electronicsearch covering 2005-2016, included five bibliographic databases: CINHAL, PubMed, PEDro, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Key terms: PMV, mobilization, therapy, and rehabilitation. Eight research studies were identified; 3 RCT's, 3 medical records reviews, 1 prospective cohort, and 1 undefined prospective interventional. Improvements in functional status, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization, decreased mortality, and superior 1-year survival rates in mobilized PMV patients were reported. Persistent methodological limitations impair the ability to determine if these outcomes were the result of improvements in pulmonary mechanics, overall functional status, or a combination of both.