Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICUAW) is a common complication, associated with significant morbidity. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has shown promise for prevention. NMES acutely affects skeletal muscle microcirculation; such effects could mediate the favorable outcomes. However, optimal current characteristics have not been defined. This study aimed to compare the effects on muscle microcirculation of a single NMES session using medium and high frequency currents.

ICU patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis of three to five days duration and patients with ICUAW were studied. A single 30-minute NMES session was applied to the lower limbs bilaterally using current of increasing intensity. Patients were randomly assigned to either the HF (75 Hz, pulse 400 μs, cycle 5 seconds on - 21 seconds off) or the MF (45 Hz, pulse 400 μs, cycle 5 seconds on - 12 seconds off) protocol. Peripheral microcirculation was monitored at the thenar eminence using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to obtain tissue O ₂ saturation (StO ₂ ); a vascular occlusion test was applied before and after the session. Local microcirculation of the vastus lateralis was also monitored using NIRS.

Thirty-one patients were randomized. In the HF protocol (17 patients), peripheral microcirculatory parameters were: thenar O ₂ consumption rate (%/minute) from 8.6 ± 2.2 to 9.9 ± 5.1 ( P  = 0.08), endothelial reactivity (%/second) from 2.7 ± 1.4 to 3.2 ± 1.9 ( P  = 0.04), vascular reserve (seconds) from 160 ± 55 to 145 ± 49 ( P  = 0.03). In the MF protocol: thenar O ₂ consumption rate (%/minute) from 8.8 ± 3.8 to 9.9 ± 3.6 ( P  = 0.07), endothelial reactivity (%/second) from 2.5 ± 1.4 to 3.1 ± 1.7 ( P  = 0.03), vascular reserve (seconds) from 163 ± 37 to 144 ± 33 ( P  = 0.001). Both protocols showed a similar effect. In the vastus lateralis, average muscle O ₂ consumption rate was 61 ± 9%/minute during the HF protocol versus 69 ± 23%/minute during the MF protocol ( P  = 0.5). The minimum amplitude in StO ₂ was 5 ± 4 units with the HF protocol versus 7 ± 4 units with the MF protocol ( P  = 0.3). Post-exercise, StO ₂ increased by 6 ± 7 units with the HF protocol versus 5 ± 4 units with the MF protocol ( P  = 0.6). These changes correlated well with contraction strength.

A single NMES session affected local and systemic skeletal muscle microcirculation. Medium and high frequency currents were equally effective.