Early mobilization after lung transplantation: A scoping review protocol.

Abstract

After lung transplantation, rehabilitation is part of patients' standard of care, playing a crucial role in enhancing functional capacity and quality of life. Although early rehabilitation in the intensive care unit has been reported in few studies, it is not yet widely standardized in clinical practice. As a result, rehabilitation protocols are often initiated several weeks after surgery, potentially leaving a gap in early postoperative management. While the benefits of early mobilization in critically ill patients are well documented, limited data exist on mobilization strategies initiated immediately in the intensive care unit following lung transplantation. Understanding the feasibility, benefits, and potential barriers to early mobilization in this population would enhance future post-transplant recovery care. Studies evaluating an early mobilization (<7d) protocol initiated in the intensive care unit for adult lung transplant recipients will be included. Studies assessing protocols initiated later (>7d) in the recovery process will be excluded. A comprehensive search will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, PEDro, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PROSPERO, as well as relevant gray literature sources. No language or date restrictions will be applied. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers.•The main question is: what evidence exists regarding the feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of early mobilization interventions for LTx recipients in critical care settings?