Muscle Wasting in the Critically Ill
Muscle Wasting in the Critically Ill
Muscle wasting is a common consequence of critical illness, and has a profound impact upon
 the rehabilitation of those who survive admission to critical to care. The investigators
 intend to assess if the application of 10 sessions over two weeks of passive cycling with
 electrical stimulation to the lower limbs and abdomen can prevent muscle loss, or at least
 cause less muscle loss, compared to patients who receive standard daily sessions of
 physiotherapy. This will be done by comparing the changes in muscle size on ultrasound
 between the two groups, comparing functional measures at a 3 month follow up, and by
 performing translational research using tissue samples taken during the study.
Patients are mechanically ventilated and sedated with a diagnosis of sepsis (from any source)
 will be eligible for this study. Provided they meet the inclusion criteria, they will be
 randomised within 48 hours of admission, to either ten 30 minute sessions of passive cycling
 with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the thighs, hamstrings, calves and abdomen
 over a 14 day period, or to a control group of routine physiotherapy. The trial group will
 also receive this physiotherapy.

 On admission to the study, all patients will receive on day 1:

 Ultrasound measurements of:

 Rectus femoris cross-sectional area Thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius
 Thickness, pennation angle and derived fascicle length of vastus lateralis and medial head of
 gastrocnemius Thickness of rectus abdominis. Thickness of diaphragm

 A blood sample taken from an arterial line A urine sample taken from a urinary catheter A
 muscle biopsy taken from the right vastus lateralis

 They will then receive ten 30 minute sessions of passive cycling with functional electrical
 stimulation over 14 days, or a control group will receive routine physiotherapy during this
 period.

 Repeat ultrasounds will be taken at days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14. Repeat blood and urine sampling
 at days 5, 10 and 14. Repeat muscle biopsy at day 14.

 All cycling, ultrasounds and tissue sampling will end on day 14 regardless of the ventilator
 status of the patient.

 In patients who survive to be discharged from critical care, they will be followed up at 3
 months for:

 Repeat ultrasound scan of all muscles listed Six minute walk test Hand grip and lower limb
 dynamometry, Balance testing (by standing upright on a pressure plate for 20 seconds)
 Psychological assessment using the 36 item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire

 Tissue sampling will be stored in the University of Liverpool for analysis of biomarkers of
 muscle damage and loss between the two groups.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients will be recruited in the Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Liverpool
 University Hospital. All patients will be over 18, and have a critical illness that
 requires mechanical ventilation with an initial period of sedation. This study will
 focus on patients with a definite or suspected case of sepsis from any source.

 Sepsis has been recently redefined as: "Life threatening organ-dysfunction caused by
 dysregulated host response to infection" whilst septic shock has become a subset of sepsis,
 defined as: "circulatory and cellular/metabolic dysfunction associated with a higher risk
 of mortality(44).

 For the purposes of this study, a patient will be regarded as septic if they have evidence
 of infection-related organ failure (e.g. sepsis-associated coagulopathy, altered mental
 state, cardiovascular dysfunction, acute kidney injury, and altered liver function) and
 require invasive mechanical ventilation with either definite or suspected evidence of
 infection. This is to allow prompt treatment with FES rather than waiting for a positive
 microbiological result to be obtained.

 Within the definition of sepsis "from any source" a list of following is illustrative but
 not exhaustive:

 -  Urogenital sepsis (including urosepsis, pyelonephritis, endometritis and
 chorioamnionitis)

 -  Pneumonia (including community acquired, hospital acquired, and aspiration pneumonia.
 Ventilator associated pneumonia would be excluded.)

 -  Neurological infections such as encephalitis and meningitis.

 -  Cellulitis, osteomyelitis and infections of soft tissue NOT affecting the lower limb.

 -  Surgical infections, including post-operative laparotomy with evidence of peritoneal
 soiling, and evidence of infection prior to the operation, in patients who require 2
 or more organ system support after the operation.

 -  Intra-abdominal sepsis, including biliary sepsis, hepatitis, and acute pancreatitis.
 In the case of acute pancreatitis, evidence of infection is required to fulfil the
 criteria. Acute pancreatitis with sterile tissue/fluid samples would not be suitable.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients under 18

 -  Patients who decline consent

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Neuromuscular disease

 -  Rhabdomyolysis

 -  Lower limb trauma

 -  Patients unlikely to survive to 96 hours post admission

 -  Consent unobtainable within 48 hours of admission

 -  Morbid obesity (BMI>40).

 -  Presence of a pacemaker or Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD).

 -  Unlikely to be mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours.