The influence of clinical course after lung transplantation on rehabilitation success
Martin Dierich, Andreas Tecklenburg, Thomas Fuehner, Uwe Tegtbur, Tobias Welte, Axel Haverich, Gregor Warnecke, Jens Gottlieb, Martin Dierich, Andreas Tecklenburg, Thomas Fuehner, Uwe Tegtbur, Tobias Welte, Axel Haverich, Gregor Warnecke, Jens Gottlieb
Abstract
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a cornerstone of treatment following lung transplantation (LTx). The aim of this study was to observe the influence of a prolonged postsurgical clinical course on success of a 3-week inpatient PR. LTx recipients were divided according to their clinical course defined by their individual length of stay (LOS) in the transplant center (cohort 1: LOS >; cohort 2: ≤42 days). Peak work rate (PWR), maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max) ), 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), physical activity of daily life (ADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured using Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF36) were assessed at beginning and completion of PR. A total of 138 patients were included (LOS >42 days: 30; LOS ≤42 days: 108). At completion, physical functioning (VC, FEV1, PWR, VO(2max) , 6-MWD, ADL), and HRQoL (all SF36 domains) improved in each cohort (P < 0.05). No differences were found in between both cohorts in VC, FEV1, and ADL (n.s.), but in PWR, 6-MWD, and the SF36 domain 'physical functioning' (P < 0.05). A 3-week inpatient PR improves physical functioning despite prolonged hospitalization. HRQoL is close to normal. (ClinicalTrials.gov. identifier: NCT00759538).
© 2013 The Authors Transplant International © 2013 European Society for Organ Transplantation. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Source: PubMed