Physical Therapist Inter-Rater Reliability in Neuro-Muscle Ultrasound in Critically Ill Patients
Pilot Study: Validation of Operators and Inter-Evaluator Variability in Diagnostic Strategies for ICU-Acquired Weakness (NMusICU-R)
University of Chile
37 participants
Feb 8, 2025
OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the feasibility and inter-rater reliability of muscle and peripheral nerve ultrasound for the early detection of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) in critically ill patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can ICU physical therapists consistently measure muscle and nerve ultrasound variables such as muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, pennation angle, and echogenicity in critically ill patients? Do clinical scales (MRC-SS and FSS-ICU) show inter-evaluator agreement and correlate with ultrasound findings? Participants are adult ICU patients at Clínica INDISA who are undergoing routine neuromuscular assessments by trained physical therapists. Each patient will be evaluated by three independent raters using ultrasound and standardized clinical scales. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine inter-rater reliability and correlations between clinical and imaging findings.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Clínica INDISA.
- Conscious and clinically stable at the time of assessment.
- Able to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria8
- Known allergy to ultrasound gel.
- Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m².
- Pre-existing neuromuscular disease.
- Continuous renal replacement therapy or severe hepatic coagulopathy.
- Platelet count < 20,000/µL.
- Lower limb amputation or recent fractures.
- Ongoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids.
- Epileptic status or pregnancy.
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Locations(1)
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NCT07032870