Cardiac Rehabilitation After Thoracic Aortic Surgery

Thoracic aortic diseases, including aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, are disorders that frequently require cardiac surgical intervention. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend cardiac rehabilitation for patients after thoracic aortic surgery. However, the evidence to support these recommendations remains limited, and there is a notable absence of individualized approaches for resuming regular exercise. In this narrative review the literature on cardiovascular rehabilitation after thoracic aortic surgery for inherited and acquired thoracic aortic disease is examined, a clinical case to illustrate limitations in the current approach is presented, and how exercise-based magnetic resonance imaging to assess aortic wall stress might support a more personalized and precise exercise prescription is explored. Further research on the safety and efficacy of exercise training in patients after thoracic aortic surgery-particularly randomized controlled trials-are needed.