Restrictive vs Liberal Physical Restraint Strategies in Critically Ill Patients: The R2D2-ICU Randomized Clinical Trial

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: P = 0.51

• Effect Size: Adjusted mean difference: 0.37 days favouring restrictive strategy

• Primary Outcome: Days alive without coma or delirium at 14 days: 6.67 days (low-use) vs 6.30 days (high-use)

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: No clinically significant benefit demonstrated; NNT not applicable

• Confidence Interval: 95% CI: -0.71 to 1.46 days

Clinical Application

Highly feasible - requires protocol development and staff education on restraint assessment using validated tools Aligns with ACQSHC National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards on restraint minimisation; supports existing Australian ICU guidelines favouring restraint reduction Adult ICU patients requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 hours, similar to Australian tertiary ICU populations

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: The effect of wrist-strap physical restraints on outcomes in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a low-use wrist-strap physical restraint strategy in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Open-label randomized clinical trial conducted across 10 ICUs in France. Between January 5, 2021, and January 2, 2024, 405 adult patients who had initiated invasive mechanical ventilation within the previous 6 hours and were expected to require ventilation for at least 48 hours were enrolled. Follow-up was completed on May 17, 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted from June 1, 2025, to December 15, 2025. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to undergo either a restrictive, low-use physical restraint strategy (wrist straps avoided unless necessary because of severe agitation, defined as a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score of ≥3 [on a scale from -5 (unresponsive) to 4 (combative)]; n = 201) or a liberal, high-use strategy (wrist straps applied systematically and reassessed daily; n = 204). Discontinuation of restraints was allowed in patients who were awake or extubated without delirium (measured via the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the number of days alive without coma or delirium during the first 14 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes included incidence of self-extubation and day-90 mortality. RESULTS: Among 396 patients with available primary outcome data, the median (IQR) age was 65 (56-73) years, 245 (62%) were male, and the median (IQR) Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 7 (4-10). The mean days alive without coma or delirium were 6.67 days (95% CI, 5.69-7.65) in the low-use strategy group and 6.30 days (95% CI, 5.35-7.24) in the high-use strategy group (adjusted mean difference, 0.37 days [95% CI, -0.71 to 1.46]; P = .51). Self-extubation occurred in 18 patients (9.2%) in the low-use strategy group and 17 (8.5%) in the high-use strategy group, and day-90 mortality was 37.2% and 41.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial, among adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU, a low-use wrist-strap physical restraint strategy compared with a high-use strategy did not reduce days free of delirium or coma at 14 days. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04273360.

References

1. 1.Sonneville, R., Couffignal, C., Sigaud, F., Thy, M., Godard, V., Audibert, J., Contou, D., Celier, A., Djibré, M., Rambaud, T., Jaquet, P., Mekontso Dessap, A., Bourel, C., Belot, R., Roy, C., Nait Sidenas, F., Essardy, F., Timsit, J. F., Cornic, R., & Bouadma, L. (2026). Restrictive vs Liberal Physical Restraint Strategies in Critically Ill Patients: The R2D2-ICU Randomized Clinical Trial. *JAMA*. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2026.2897