Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation of LVAD Patients—Updated Recommendations from the Working Group of the German Society for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases

Nils Reiss; Thomas Schmidt; Eike Langheim; Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens; Roger Marx; Jürgen R. Sindermann; Ernst Knoglinger

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1691837

The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, Table of Contents

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021; 69(01): 070-082
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1691837

Review Article

Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation of LVAD Patients—Updated Recommendations from the Working Group of the German Society for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases

Nils Reiss

¹Schüchtermann-Klinik Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany

,

Thomas Schmidt

¹Schüchtermann-Klinik Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany

²Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, German Sports University, Cologne, Germany

,

Eike Langheim

³Reha-Zentrum Seehof der DRV-Bund, Teltow, Germany

,

Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens

²Institute of Cardiology and Sports Medicine, German Sports University, Cologne, Germany

,

Roger Marx

⁴MediClin Fachklinik Rhein/Ruhr, Essen, Germany

,

Jürgen R. Sindermann

¹Schüchtermann-Klinik Bad Rothenfelde, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany

,

Ernst Knoglinger

⁵Kirchberg-Klinik, Bad Lauterberg, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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Abstract

Cardiac rehabilitation physicians are faced to an increasing number of heart failure patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Many of these patients have complex medical issues and prolonged hospitalizations and therefore need special cardiac rehabilitation strategies including psychological, social, and educational support which are actually poorly implemented.

Cardiac rehabilitation with clear guidance and more evidence should be considered as an essential component of the patient care plan especially regarding the increasing number of destination patients and their long-term follow-up.

In this article the working group for postimplant treatment and rehabilitation of LVAD patients of the German Society for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases has summarized and updated the recommendations for the cardiac rehabilitation of LVAD patients considering the latest literature.

Keywords

heart failure - left ventricular assist device - rehabilitation

Full Text

References

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