Objective To analyze the research hotspots and trends of early mobilization in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation.

Methods The literature on early mobilization of ICU patients with mechanical ventilation included in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science databases from 2000 to 2023 was searched. CiteSpace visualization software was used for literature analysis, and the publication volume and keywords of the literature were displayed in the form of maps. The research hotspots and problems in this field were analyzed.

Results A total of 116 Chinese articles and 145 English articles related to early mobilization in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation were retrieved. The number of English articles increased with fluctuations, while the number of Chinese articles showed a steady growth trend overall, both of which fell slightly in 2020. The research focused on early mobilization, mechanical ventilation, ICU-acquired weakness and delirium. Chinese articles formed 11 clusters such as early mobilization, mechanical ventilation, nursing, review and muscle strength; English articles formed 10 clusters such as critical care, delirium and pilot study. The high-frequency keyword in 2023 was goal-directed.

Conclusion Domestic and foreign scholars pay high attention to the early mobilization of ICU patients with mechanical ventilation, focusing on the impact of early mobilization on diseases and the evaluation of its effects. The research content in this field is rich, but there are few evidence-based practical studies.