Tue Feb 18 05:01:14 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Hospital Pioneers Early Mobilisation for Critically Ill Children

**Chennai, February 18, 2025** – The Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital (KKCTH) in Chennai is revolutionizing pediatric intensive care by implementing early mobilization techniques for critically ill children. This innovative approach, implemented since mid-2023, focuses on structured movement strategies to accelerate recovery and improve overall well-being.

According to Dr. Sudeep Kumar Kapalavai, Senior Consultant at KKCTH’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), prolonged immobility in young patients leads to muscle atrophy, delayed recovery, and increased anxiety. The hospital’s strategy utilizes readily available resources like tricycles and wheelchairs, demonstrating that high-tech equipment isn’t necessary for impactful results.

A structured scoring system assesses each child’s readiness for movement, progressing from minor in-bed movements to assisted walking. Safety is paramount, especially for ventilated patients, with a team of physiotherapists, nurses, and doctors collaborating to ensure stability. The process includes carefully controlled positioning, sitting up with assistance, and eventual transition to a wheelchair.

The benefits extend beyond physical recovery. Early mobilization improves respiratory function, digestion, and reduces parental stress. Dr. Kapalavai highlighted cases where incorporating parents into the process, such as allowing a parent to hold their child, significantly improved both the child’s physical and emotional state. One instance involved a child recovering from surgery and pneumonia who showed dramatic improvement after being placed on their mother’s lap. Another saw a ventilated child respond positively to being seated on a tricycle.

Even in complex post-surgical cases, such as airway reconstruction, KKCTH has modified traditional practices. By reducing sedation and allowing early movement with parental support, the hospital has achieved faster recovery times.

This innovative approach, successfully implemented at KKCTH, demonstrates how simple interventions can dramatically improve the recovery of critically ill children, even in resource-constrained settings, and is reshaping pediatric critical care strategies.

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