The Use of Technology in Critical Care and Rehabilitation - Virtual Reality, Robotics, and More

Introduction

The development of new technologies and treatment strategies improves the survival rate in critically ill patients. The new technologies provide precise monitoring and treatments, which help physicians rescue patients from critical conditions. In addition, they help the practitioners in the decision-making process. The new technologies should be non-invasive and easily accessible. Most intensive care unit patients are inactive, which may cause delirium and impairment of physical activities. Some alternative methods and new technologies, like virtual reality and robotics, are used in the rehabilitation program to improve the activity level in intensive care units (ICU) patients.

What Are the Technologies Used in Critical Care and Rehabilitation?

Critical care and rehabilitation technologies provide innovative and effective solutions to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. The various technologies used in critical care and rehabilitation include the following:

1. Technologies Used in Critical Care:

• Patient monitoring systems help to monitor vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.

• Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving technology that delivers oxygen to patients who cannot breathe independently.

• Hemodynamic monitoring uses invasive or non-invasive sensors to measure blood pressure, blood flow, oxygenation, and heart and circulatory system performance.

• Telemedicine enables remote patient monitoring, diagnosis, treatment, and teleconsultations for patients without specialized care available locally.

2. Technologies Used in Rehabilitation:

• Assistive technologies include mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walking aids, prostheses, and communication aids such as text-to-speech and speech recognition software.

• Virtual reality is used to treat conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder with a simulated environment for the patients to engage in rehabilitation.

• Robotic therapy uses robotic devices to assist patients with rehabilitative exercises.

• Musculoskeletal remodeling and simulations.

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

• Motion analysis.

What Is Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation?

Virtual reality is a tool for rehabilitation and exercises in intensive care patients. Virtual reality-based rehabilitation engages and motivates the patients and provides a positive learning experience. In virtual reality, patients wear special glasses to immerse themselves in an artificial three-dimensional world. The tasks include imitations or video-game-like activities for the patients. The virtual environments are customized according to the patient’s physical or cognitive impairments.

Virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly used in critical care and rehabilitation settings to improve patient outcomes and experiences. The following are some examples.

1. Pain Management:

• VR is a non-pharmacological intervention used for pain management in critical care settings.

• It distracts and comforts the patients, and reduces pain and anxiety during wound care, burns dressing changes, and intravenous catheter insertion.

• In rehabilitation, virtual reality manages the patient’s chronic pain with engaging environments to distract them from pain.

2. Rehabilitation:

• Virtual reality is used as a tool for physical and cognitive rehabilitation.

• A combination of VR and brain-computer interface (BCI) improve motor functions in chronic stroke survivors.

• It improves gait rehabilitation after a stroke and lower limb amputation by providing treadmill training systems with head-mounted devices or screens.

• It provides balance and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease and is also used for early mobility exercises to prevent deconditioning in critically ill patients.

3. Mental Health:

• VR treats anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in critical care and rehabilitation settings.

4. Education and Training:

• VR provides a safe, low-risk environment and immersive and realistic simulations for healthcare providers to train in critical care and rehabilitation scenarios.

• Biosensors such as EMG sensors, force sensors, and inertial measurement units allow the therapist to provide timely feedback to the patients as they record the activities of the patient’s muscles.

Disadvantages of Virtual Reality:

• Virtual reality can cause patients cybersickness in which they experience nausea, vomiting, and headache.

What Is Robotic Technology in Critical Care and Rehabilitation?

The uses of robotic technology in critical care and rehabilitation settings include the following:

1. Critical Care:

• Robots are used in critical care units to monitor and care for patients.

• For example, they administer medications, monitor vital signs, and help patients turn and reposition.

• It reduces the caregiver's workload.

• Telepresence robots help in communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers.

2. Rehabilitation:

• They are tools for physical and cognitive rehabilitation.

• Robots provide repetitive and controlled movements to the patients.

• Motivate patients to engage in rehabilitation exercises with biofeedback and gamification.

3. Surgical Assistance and Prosthetics:

• Robots assist in complex surgical procedures, suturing, manipulating tissues, and visualization during surgery.

• They develop prosthetic devices to provide mobility and functionality for amputees.

• Exoskeletons provide support and mobility for patients with spinal cord injuries and mobility impairments.

What Is Musculoskeletal Modeling and Simulation?

In critical care, musculoskeletal modeling is used to understand the effects of prolonged bed rest and immobility on a patient’s musculoskeletal system. In addition, musculoskeletal modeling assesses a patient’s biomechanics and muscle function in rehabilitation settings. It helps clinicians design more effective treatment plans for patients.

What Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate neural activity in the brain. TMS assesses and monitors the level of consciousness in patients with brain injuries in critical care units. In addition, it improves muscle strength, balance, and coordination in patients by stimulating the brain's motor areas.

What Is Motion Analysis?

Motion analysis is used to monitor the movement patterns of bedridden patients. It identifies the areas of weakness or imbalance, pressure ulcers, and other complications associated with prolonged bed rest. In rehabilitation settings, motion analysis improves patient outcomes by providing data on movement patterns and biomechanics.

What Are the Benefits of Using Technology in Critical Care and Rehabilitation?

The benefits of using technology in critical care and rehabilitation include the following.

• Improved Patient Outcomes - Technologies help in earlier detection, and effective treatment plans to improve patient outcomes.

• Increased Efficiency - The use of technology helps healthcare providers to work more efficiently.

• Cost Savings - Technology reduces the length of hospital stays and prevents readmissions, thereby reducing costs.

• Access to Specialized Care - Telemedicine and other technologies benefit patients living in remote areas.

Conclusion

The use of technology in critical care and rehabilitation has provided innovative and effective solutions to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital stays, and increase efficiency. However, further research and developments are required to provide quality care to critically ill patients.