2023 Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 85-89
Early rehabilitation is effective for preventing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). However, safety concerns may lead to the restriction of lower-limb rehabilitation during continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) via the femoral vein with a non-cuffed (NC) catheter. In this study, we performed range-of-motion exercise (ROMex) of lower limbs in patients undergoing CHDF with an NC catheter inserted into the femoral vein, and investigated the effect on blood flow. Five patients were recruited in this study between April and December 2020. Ten flex and extension exercises after confirming stepwise flexion were performed as ROMex. Blood flow pressure, venous pressure, and an insufficient blood flow alarm were recorded during the exercise. We also confirmed the presence/absence of bleeding from the catheter insertion site before and after the procedure. During the period, ROMex was performed 10 times in total by each of the 5 patients. No significant fluctuation was noted in either blood flow pressure or venous pressure；both pressures remained within the range of the alarm threshold. The alarm signaling insufficient blood flow was recorded only once. The results suggest that ROMex of lower limbs would not affect CHDF treatment for patients with an appropriate NC catheter inserted into the femoral vein.
