‘Early Mobility’ Gets ICU Patients Home Faster

The simple act of breathing is so automatic we don’t even think about it – especially when we’re asleep. Unless you’re Anthony Joseph Plater, who for his entire life has suffered from a condition called Central Congenital Hypoventilation Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects the mechanism that sustains breathing during sleep.

In May, Plater was rushed to South Miami Hospital where he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, a condition that, if left untreated, would be deadly. He was intubated and after several days in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Plater’s condition had stabilized but he was extremely weak.

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[Transcript]

(soft music)
[Baptist Health South Florida logo]

(classical guitar music)
[video of patient playing guitar]

[Anthony Joseph Plater, Patient, Congenital Hypoventilation Syndrome]: I was born in Miami with trach. With trach for 18 years.

(pictures of Anthony with his mother from when he was born)

And, they took it out. And now, I sleep on BiPAP machine. I came to South Miami Hospital by fire rescue, and I have double pneumonia. Both lungs.

(video of an ambulance and Anthony being transported by fire rescue)

[Elizabeth Plater, Patient's mother]: We love that hospital. That hospital love us, because they know us so many years. And we have doctors here who I trust. It's not the first time he got pneumonia, and was almost dying.

(picture of South Miami Hospital Emergency and video of doctor J Francisco Rodriguez-Moran in action)

[Yosvel Barroso, Respiratory Therapy Supervisor, South Miami Hospital]: Anthony? We're pretty familiar to his condition at this facility. Many times he's come to the emergency department with respiratory issues.

[J Francisco Rodriguez-Moran, M.D., FCCP, Medical Director Critical Care Services, South Miami Hospital]: Central congenital hypoventilation syndrome is a genetic disorder. It's caused by a change in a specific gene. So, people are born with this defect. A problem when, where they forget to breathe, especially when they're asleep.

[Paula Ruiz, RN, Critical Care Unit, South Miami Hospital]: When I received him during my shift, he was intubated. The family was very eager to have him extubated .

[Clarybel Vazquez, PT, Physical Therapy, South Miami Hospital]: We had no trouble moving him to the edge of the bed, and to sit him into the chair. He was moving very independently, so that's when the thought came to mind that maybe, we could walk him in the hallway.

[Paula Ruiz, RN, Critical Care Unit, South Miami Hospital]: Anthony was a great candidate for early mobility, and we took advantage of the moment, collaborating with our pulmonologist team, with respiratory therapy, with physical therapy.

(video from the day Anthony received treatment at South Miami Hospital)

[Clarybel Vazquez, PT, Physical Therapy, South Miami Hospital]: Because of our teamwork, we had a positive outcome for Anthony that day, in being able to get him up and walking.

[Paula Ruiz, RN, Critical Care Unit, South Miami Hospital]: The reason why we promote early mobility with patients that have breathing tubes is because studies have shown that it does reduce ventilator days, it reduces length of stay in the hospital, and it also reduces muscle wasting.

(picture of Anthony intubated)

[Paula Ruiz, RN, Critical Care Unit, South Miami Hospital]: After having a breathing tube for a week, they're already considering a tracheostomy. But, because Anthony was a good candidate for early mobility, we were able to take the breathing tube out.

(Anthony and his brother walking down the hallway at South Miami Hospital)

[J Francisco Rodriguez-Moran, M.D., FCCP, Medical Director Critical Care Services, South Miami Hospital]: Very often, we see that our ICU patients get better from their primary problem, but unfortunately, they're left so weak that they're unable to move on their own or walk on their own. And so, by early mobilizing them, and doing physical and occupational therapy, we ensure that their recovery process is much shorter.

[Elizabeth Plater, Patient's mother]: You know, he was almost dying, and look at, again, we're alive. That is incredible story. I love that hospital, and I don't want another one.

(picture of Anthony and his dog at the hospital bed)

[Anthony Joseph Plater, Patient, Congenital Hypoventilation Syndrome]: Thank you very much, South Miami Hospital.

(picture of Anthony and his dog at home)

(soft music)
[Baptist Health South Florida logo]

[end of transcript]

Видео ‘Early Mobility’ Gets ICU Patients Home Faster канала BaptistHealthSF