Effects Of Therapeutic Exercise In Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patients In Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review

Background: Therapeutic exercise and early mobilization are strategies that have demonstrated benefits in patients in intensive care units, however postsurgical patients of cardiovascular surgery present differential risks and therefore specialized interventions. Objectives: To identify the effects of therapeutic exercise in intensive care unit patients who underwent cardiac surgery as reported in the scientific literature. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the following databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and PubMed®. There were no language restrictions, and articles published between January 1, 2018, and October 30, 2023, were included. The characteristics of the population were collected according to exercise prescription principles, frequency, intensity, time, type of activity/mode, and the benefits reported for early exercise. Results: From a 814 papers, 12 that met the inclusion criteria were selected for final analysis. Most patients were male, aged between 54 and 68 years; the rehabilitation protocol started between 2 and 8 hours after extubation, with different degrees of exercise intensity. Finally, improved exercise tolerance and functional capacity, decreased onset of delirium, improved oxygen consumption and decreased intensive care unit stay were reported. Discussion: Most studies use validated scales to determine aerobic capacity and other physical qualities in the population. However, the prescription of exercise intensity reflects variations. This difficulty could be attributed to the differential response associated with the particular conditions of each subject, which highlights the importance of trained professionals to address these interventions safely. Conclusion: Therapeutic exercise prescribed in intensive care unit patients after cardiac surgery positively affects their outcomes. However, our findings report a lack of precision in exercise intensity and heterogeneous intervention protocols.