Acute Skeletal Muscle Wasting and Relation to Physical Function in Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Abstract Purpose Muscle weakness is common in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), but early identification is challenging. This study aimed to 1) quantify the change in quadriceps size and quality (echogenicity) from baseline to day 10 using ultrasound in patients requiring ECMO, 2) determine the relationship between ultrasound measures, muscle strength and highest mobility level. Materials and methods Prospective cohort study involving ultrasound measurement of quadriceps at baseline, days 10 and 20. Muscle strength and highest mobility level were assessed at days 10 and 20 using the Medical Research Council sum-score (MRC), hand-held dynamometry (HHD) and the ICU mobility scale (IMS). Results 25 patients (age 49 ± 14 years, 44% male) received ECMO. There was a significant reduction (−19%, p  Conclusions In patients requiring ECMO there was marked wasting of the quadriceps over the first 10 days. Ultrasound measures were related to muscle strength and highest mobility level.