Pulmonary Rehabilitation in High-Risk Mechanically Ventilated Patients: From ICU to Post-Acute Recovery

Pulmonary rehabilitation is becoming an essential component of care for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, particularly those at high risk of prolonged weaning, respiratory muscle dysfunction, ICU-acquired weakness, and poor functional recovery. While ventilatory support remains life-saving, prolonged immobilization, sedation, diaphragmatic dysfunction, secretion burden, and systemic complications often delay liberation from the ventilator and worsen both short- and long-term outcomes. This Research Topic will focus on current evidence and emerging strategies in pulmonary rehabilitation for high-risk mechanically ventilated patients across the continuum of critical care. It will explore early respiratory rehabilitation, inspiratory and expiratory muscle training, airway clearance techniques, mobilization during invasive and noninvasive ventilation, ventilator-weaning protocols, post-extubation rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary models integrating intensivists, pulmonologists, physiotherapists, nurses, and respiratory therapists. We welcome contributions addressing clinical efficacy, physiological mechanisms, safety, patient selection, timing of intervention, monitoring tools, and real-world implementation in different ICU settings. Special attention will be given to frail older adults, patients with COPD, neuromuscular disease, obesity, prolonged ventilation, tracheostomy, and post-surgical or post-infectious respiratory failure. Studies on digital monitoring, tele-rehabilitation after ICU discharge, and pathways linking ICU care with post-acute pulmonary rehabilitation are also encouraged. By bringing together original research, reviews, clinical perspectives, and consensus-building work, this Research Topic aims to define best practices and identify future directions for pulmonary rehabilitation in high-risk mechanically ventilated critical care populations. Topic editors: Dr. Antonio M. Esquinas PhD, FCCP, FNIV, Ebru Umay Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78382/pulmonary-rehabilitation-in-high-risk-mechanically-ventilated-patients-from-icu-to-post-acute-recovery