IJCS | Volume 32, Nº5, September/October 2019

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20190028 483 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2019;32(5):483-489 Mailing Address: Prof. Telma Cristina Fontes Cerqueira Universidade Federal de Sergipe - Campus Universitário Prof Antônio Garcia Filho - Gov. Marcelo Deda, 13. Postal Code: 49400-000, Centro, Lagarto, Sergipe - Brazil E-mail: telmac@gmail.com Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Hemodynamic and Respiratory Response in Patients Submitted to Cardiac Surgery: Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Telma Cristina Fontes Cerqueira, 1 M anoel Luiz deCerqueiraNeto, 2 Auristela JuliaGuilherminoCarvalho, 2 G éssica Uruga Oliveira, 2 Amaro Afrânio de Araújo Filho, 3 V itor Oliveira Carvalho, 2 L ucas de Assis Pereira Cacau, 3 W alderi Monteiro da Silva Júnior, 2 José Teles de Mendonça, 2 V alter Joviniano de Santana Filho 2 Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), 1 Lagarto, SE - Brazil Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), 2 São Cristóvão, SE - Brazil Universidade Tiradentes (UNIT), 3 Aracaju, SE - Brazil Manuscript received January 23, 2018; revised manuscript September 28, 2018; accepted November 01, 2018. Abstract Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation seems to be a promising option to intensify the rehabilitation and improve the exercise capacity of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure) and respiratory (respiratory rate and oxygen saturation) responses to neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the immediate postoperative period in patients submitted to cardiac surgery and to verify its feasibility and safety. Methods: This is a pilot randomized controlled trial, wherein critical patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to a control group, using sham neuromuscular electrical stimulation, or an experimental group, submitted to neuromuscular electrical stimulation sessions (FES), for 60 min, with a 50-Hz frequency, 200-μs pulse duration, time on: 3 s, and time off: 9 s. Data distribution was evaluated by the Shapiro– Wilk test. The analysis of variance was used and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Thirty patients were included in the study. The neuromuscular electrical stimulation was applied within the first 23.13 ± 5.24 h after cardiac surgery, and no changes were found regarding the hemodynamic and respiratory variables between the patients who underwent neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and those in the control group. Conclusions: In the present study, neuromuscular electrical stimulation did not promote changes in hemodynamic and respiratory responses of patients in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2019;32(5):483-489) Keywords: Thoracic Surgery; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Diagnosis of Health Situation; Heart Rate; Blood Pressure; Oxygen Level. Introduction Although cardiac surgery is an effective option and a safe procedure that increase quality of life and survival in patients with heart failure, it is still a complex procedure with many possible complications. 1-3 Muscle proteolysis has been known to accelerate within 48 h after cardiovascular surgery, 2 when patients are under significant mobilization restrictions, and use of mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs, sedatives, and analgesics, and the presence of catheters, thoracic, and mediastinal drains. In this context, the rehabilitation of patients after cardiac surgery becomes a challenge in the intensive care unit (ICU). 1-3 Early mobilization and physical exercise have been considered as fundamental components in the rehabilitation of patients in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery. 4,5 The functional status is