Physical training and occupational rehabilitation after aortic valve replacement

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Aortic valve implantation requires comprehensive patient recovery strategies.
• Understanding the impact of post-operative interventions on physical capacity and employment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the influence of physical training and vocational assistance on physical work capacity and reemployment rates after aortic valve implantation.
• To evaluate the long-term effects of these interventions at 2, 6, and 12 months post-operation.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 44 patients post-aortic valve implantation.
• Allocation into a training group (A) or a control group (B).
• Training initiated 8-12 weeks post-operation, with socio-occupational status evaluation.

Main Results:

• Training significantly increased cumulated work (CW) by 58% (P < 0.001).
• Training reduced rate-pressure product (RPP) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) by 13% (P < 0.001).
• Higher CW observed in the training group at 6 and 12 months (38% and 37% respectively).

Conclusions:

• Early physical training post-aortic valve operation rapidly and persistently enhances physical work capacity.
• Reemployment rates showed less significant improvement from training and socio-vocational assistance compared to physical capacity gains.
• Reemployment correlated with physical work capacity and inversely with pre-operative sick leave duration.