Novel Multidisciplinary Cardiometabolic Prehabilitation for Inoperable Aortic Aneurysm Management

Health optimization before surgery is a key strategy to reduce perioperative complications and improve outcomes. However, patients with severe cardiometabolic disease and poor functional status present unique challenges.

A 59-year-old man with a 6.7-cm ascending aortic aneurysm was deemed ineligible for surgery at 2 tertiary centers and 1 quaternary center because of severe obesity, poor functional status, and multiple comorbidities. He enrolled in Advanced Cardiac Energetics (ACE), a structured, multidisciplinary virtual program incorporating lifestyle changes, intermittent fasting, and mindfulness. Over 7 months, his weight, blood pressure, and functional capacity improved, and he successfully underwent aneurysm repair.

Although prehabilitation is supported in the literature, strategies for obese, deconditioned patients are limited. This case demonstrates how Advanced Cardiac Energetics may expand surgical eligibility in high-risk populations and serve as a model for comprehensive preoperative care.

Multidisciplinary cardiometabolic care programs can deliver prehabilitation to enable life-saving cardiothoracic surgery for patients who are otherwise inoperable.