Prehabilitation Using a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for a Patient With a Total Artificial Heart Prior to Heart...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Mechanical Circulatory Support
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Mechanical cardiocirculatory support has advanced significantly.
• Total artificial hearts (TAH) are a viable option for end-stage heart failure, serving as a bridge to transplantation.
• TAH technology addresses organ shortfalls in heart transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of prehabilitation on a patient with an Aeson TAH (Carmat).
• To assess improvements in functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) post-TAH implantation.

Main Methods:

• A case report focusing on a single patient implanted with an Aeson TAH.
• Utilized the 6-minute walk test to assess functional capacity.
• Employed the Short Form-12 (SF-12) health survey to evaluate quality of life.

Main Results:

• Prehabilitation led to notable improvements in physical capacity and QoL within a short 2-week period.
• Observed functional improvements comparable to longer protocols in heart transplant patients.
• Demonstrated superior effects on QoL compared to existing data.

Conclusions:

• Prehabilitation is beneficial for patients with a TAH, enhancing both physical function and QoL.
• The findings suggest prehabilitation can positively impact recovery and outcomes for TAH recipients.
• The patient successfully underwent heart transplantation 5 months after TAH implantation.