Article

Because a limited number of patients receive heart transplantation, alternative
therapies, such as left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy, have emerged.
Published studies have shown that LVAD implantation, by itself, improves exercise
tolerance to the point where it is comparable to those with mild heart failure.
The improvement in exercise capacity is maximally achieved 12 weeks after LVAD
therapy and can continue even after explantation of the device. This effect
varies, depending on the type of LVAD and exercise training. The available data
in the literature on safety and benefits of exercise training in patients after
LVAD implantation are limited, but the data that are available suggest that
training trends to be safe and have an impact on exercise capacity in LVAD
patients. Although no studies were identified on the role of cardiac
rehabilitation programs in the management of LVAD patients, it appears that
cardiac rehabilitation programs offer an ideal setting for the provision of
supervised exercise training in this patient group.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI