Should mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients receive physical therapy?

Abstract

An obese 45-year-old man is brought to our level-one trauma center after being struck by a car while on his motorcycle. He was in the right lane on the highway when a sleep-deprived delivery driver swerved to make the exit and clipped the victim's back tire. The focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) scan in the trauma slot reveals significant abdominal bleeding. An exploratory laparotomy finds a ruptured spleen requiring splenectomy for source control. Due to bowel swelling and the patient's body habitus, the abdomen cannot be closed. A vacuum dressing is placed over the incision, and the patient is brought to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU).