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Cardiac Rehabilitation to Inpatient Heart Transplant-HRN4HTx Intervention Protocol
Maria Loureiro1, Vítor Parola2, João Duarte3
1Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Cintesis-NursID, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, 3000-602 Coimbra, Portugal.
Nursing Reports (Pavia, Italy)
|September 23, 2024
Summary
This cardiac rehabilitation program (RN4HTx) is safe for heart transplant patients, improving their self-care and functional capacity post-surgery. It ensures a safer return home for recipients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Transplant Surgery
Background:
- Heart transplantation is the primary treatment for end-stage heart failure.
- Post-transplant limitations impact patient function, self-care, and quality of life.
- Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for recovery and complication prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety of the RN4HTx phase 1 cardiac rehabilitation protocol in heart transplant recipients.
- To evaluate the protocol's impact on patients' self-care capacity and functional recovery.
- To determine the feasibility of early cardiac rehabilitation post-heart transplantation.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative, descriptive study involving 19 heart transplant recipients.
- Implementation of the RN4HTx protocol with monitoring of adverse events and hemodynamic variables.
- Assessment of self-care capacity (Barthel Index) and functional capacity (6-minute walk test) pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The RN4HTx protocol was safely implemented in all participants without adverse events.
- Significant improvements were observed in self-care capacity pre- and post-transplantation.
- Functional capacity at discharge averaged 310.035 meters on the 6-minute walk test.
Conclusions:
- The RN4HTx protocol is a safe and feasible early cardiac rehabilitation program for heart transplant patients.
- The program positively influences functional recovery and self-care capacity, enhancing readiness for home discharge.
- Early cardiac rehabilitation can improve outcomes and increase the safety of returning home after heart transplantation.
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