Early Mobilization of Patients Receiving Vasoactive Drugs in Critical Care Units: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Mobilization is feasible, safe, and beneficial to patients admitted to critical care units. Vasoactive therapy appears to be one of the most common barriers to early mobilization. Many recent publications have studied the safety and feasibility of mobilizing patients with these vasoactive drugs. The aim of this review was to synthesize the prevailing evidence pertaining to mobilizing patients receiving vasoactive drugs. Methods: The protocol was developed and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019127448). A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDRO), Cochrane Central, and Embase (through Cochrane) for original research, including case studies and consensus guidelines. PRISMA guidelines were used to conduct and report this review. The included articles were appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale independently and a consensus reached by 3 reviewers. Results and Conclusion: Evidence determining specific doses of vasoactive drugs that would allow safe mobilization of patients in critical care is lacking. The criteria that have been used to determine the eligibility to mobilize patients on vasoactive drugs have not been consistent.