Specific inspiratory muscle training is safe in selected patients who are ventilator-dependent: A case series

Summary Background Mechanical ventilation of intensive care patients results in inspiratory muscle weakness. Inspiratory muscle training may be useful, but no studies have specifically described the physiological response to training. Research questions Is inspiratory muscle training with a threshold device safe in selected ventilator-dependent patients? Does inspiratory muscle strength increase with high-intensity inspiratory muscle training in ventilator-dependent patients? Design Prospective cohort study of 10 medically stable ventilator-dependent adult patients. Setting Tertiary adult intensive care unit. Methods Inspiratory muscle training 5–6 days per week with a threshold device attached to the tracheostomy without supplemental oxygen. Outcome measures Physiological response to training (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate), adverse events, training pressures. Results No adverse events were recorded in 195 sessions studied. For each patient's second training session, no significant changes in heart rate (Mean Difference 1.3 bpm, 95% CI −2.7 to 5.3), mean arterial pressure (Mean Difference −0.9 mmHg, 95% CI −6.4 to 4.6), respiratory rate (Mean Difference 1.2 bpm, 95% CI −1.1 to 3.5 bpm) or oxygen saturation (Mean Difference 1.2%, 95% CI −0.6 to 3.0) were detected Training pressures increased significantly (Mean Difference 18.6 cmH 2 O, 95% CI 11.8–25.3). Conclusion Threshold-based inspiratory muscle training can be delivered safely in selected ventilator-dependent patients without supplemental oxygen. Inspiratory muscle training is associated with increased muscle strength, which may assist ventilatory weaning.