Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on renal functions in pregnancy related-acute kidney injury: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Various therapies have been used to restore blood flow and stabilize renal function in patients with pregnancy related acute kidney injury (AKI-P). There are favorable effects of electrical stimulation on muscle metabolism, microcirculation and possibly renal function; therefore, this study suggests for the first time that neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has a positive effect on renal functions of women with AKI-P. Methods: This randomized controlled design study evaluated the effect of NMES on renal blood flow and hemodynamics for women with AKI-P. Patients were randomized into two groups; NMES group (Group ES) versus Control group (Group C). Group ES received routine care and NMES while Group C received routine care only, data was collected from obstetric ICU. Improvement of renal functions was considered the primary outcome and secondary outcome was improvement of hemodynamics.  Results: NMES application had caused no a statistical significant change in serum creatinine in Group ES than Group C on mid period and last day of the study (230.13 ± 83.69 in Group ES versus 258.3 ± 115.77 in Group C) and (180.21 ± 63.65 in Group ES versus 201.32 ± 84.78 in Group C) (P = 0.285 & P = 0.297) respectively. Conclusion: Application of NMES had no effect on their renal functions but there are improvements on hemodynamics. Trial registration: The study registered in Clinical-Trials.gov at 8 October 2020 - prospectively registered, http://www. Clinical- Trials.gov.com/ NCT04580329 Abbreviations: CVP: Central venous pressure; ES: Electrical stimulation; GCS: Glasgow coma scale; HR: Heart rate; MAP: Mean arterial pressure; NMES: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; AKI-P: Pregnancy related acute kidney injury; RR: Respiratory rate Key words: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Acute kidney injury; Renal functions Citation: Ali ATA, Abdelaal IIM, Obiedallah AMA, Abdelbadie AS. Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on renal functions in pregnancy related acute kidney injury: a randomized controlled trial. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;27(1):104−111; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i1.2112 Received: March 10, 2022; Reviewed: November 09, 2022; Accepted: December 17, 2022