The Rehabilitation of Patients With Advanced Heart Failure After Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement: A Narrative Review

Heart transplantation and the role of inpatient rehabilitation: A narrative review

Heart transplantation is a definitive treatment option for patients with end-stage heart failure. Medical and functional complications are common after this procedure, and rehabilitation is often needed postoperatively. Physiatrists caring for persons who have received a donor heart must appreciate the surgical background, the physiologic changes expected, as well as the potential medical complications for which they are at risk after heart transplantation. This review summarizes various topics in heart transplantation including the history of the procedure, exercise physiology and functional outcomes, postoperative medical therapy, medical complications, and special considerations for inpatient rehabilitation in this patient population.

Flow assessment as a function of pump timing of tubular pulsatile pump for use as a ventricular assist device in a left heart simulator

INTRODUCTION

Although mechanical circulatory support saved many lives during the last decade, clinical observations have shown that the continuous flow pumps are associated with a much higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney problems, among others, compared with the earlier generation pulsatile pumps. However, the presence of several moving mechanical components made pulsatile pumps less durable, bulky, and prone to malfunction, ultimately leading to bias in favor of continuous flow designs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current work is to create a prototype tubular pulsatile pump and to test the timing of the pump in a left heart simulator.

METHODS

A left heart simulator to mimic pumping from a failing heart was created. This was used to experimentally test the output of a prototype ventricular assist device relative to a failing heart in the form of flow and pressure. The effect of pulsation timing was quantified.

RESULTS

A failing heart was simulated with an average flow rate of 1.1 L/min and a systolic pressure of 47 mmHg. With the pump, the flow rate increases to 4.8 L/min and a systolic pressure of 110mmHg, in a copulsation mode, while activating for 300-400 ms. If the activation time is reduced, or increased, the pump becomes less effective. Load on the heart is reduced when the pump operates in a counterpulsation mode.

CONCLUSION

A pulsatile pump, like the one proposed, provides adequate output for mechanical circulatory support, while minimizing the number of moving parts that could otherwise lead to tribological wear.

Risk factors of readmission to acute care hospital among individuals with heart failure and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) at inpatient rehabilitation setting (STROBE compliant article)

In post-acute care hospital setting, the heart failure (HF) individuals with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) have about 30% of transfer to acute care hospitals which requires readmission. There is relative increase in cost and mortality due to the readmission.The goal of this study is to identify possible risk factors at Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) to decrease the rate of readmission to acute care hospitals.This study is retrospective study at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU)Twenty one individuals with HF and LVAD were admitted to IRU. We determined 2 subgroups. One is the readmission group (Readmission) and the other is the control group (Control). Readmission (n = 6) is the individuals who were transferred to acute care hospital, and Control (n = 15) is the individuals who were discharged.To compare Readmission group with Control group and evaluate demographic, laboratory, and functional outcome parameters. Main Outcome Measures are Body Mass Index (BMI), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and Functional independence measure (FIM).At admission, INR in Readmission group was 3.4 ± 1.2 and in Control group was 2.2 ± 0.5 with a statistically significant p value (P = .004) and FIM score in Readmission group was 81.2 ± 15.9 and in Control group was 96.3 ± 11.5 with a statistically significant p value (P = .023).The study showed the individuals with HF and LVAD at IRU had high INR and low FIM which may be the cause for readmission and need more attentive care. This data can help identify the factors causing readmission and help reduce the rate of readmission. Further evaluation is necessary to determine the cause for readmission.

A new pathophysiology in heart failure patients

In the treatment of patients with severe heart failure, left ventricle assist device plays an important role, especially as a destination therapy. Nevertheless, even in successful cases, patients' progressive weaning is rarely taken into consideration. The recovery of more physiological circulation conditions is not a main goal. This hypothesis is discussed in this article.

Outcomes of Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation After Ventricular Assist Device Placement

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation after ventricular assist device placement with outcomes for other cardiac diagnoses.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective review of the electronic health records of 265 patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation: 166 patients were admitted after ventricular assist device placement and 99 were admitted for other cardiac disease. Data collected included functional independence measure score on admission and discharge, dates of admission and discharge, and disposition.

RESULTS

Patients admitted after ventricular assist device placement had a mean functional independence measure gain of 25.7 and length of stay of 8.7 days. Patients admitted for other cardiac diagnoses had a mean functional independence measure gain of 25.9 and length of stay of 9.4 days. These differences were not statistically significant. Change in functional independence measure from admission to discharge was statistically significant within each group (P < 0.001). Most patients were discharged home, and the proportions who returned to acute care or home were not different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the ventricular assist device and nonventricular assist device groups had significant and equivalent improvements in functional outcomes after inpatient rehabilitation. This study found that ventricular assist device patients benefit from inpatient rehabilitation with similar disposition rates as patients with other cardiac diagnoses. Inpatient rehabilitation is the appropriate setting for this group.

TO CLAIM CME CREDITS

Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME CME OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Describe the role of rehabilitation in the care of individuals after ventricular assist device (VAD) placement; (2) Compare the outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation for individuals after VAD placement to those admitted for other cardiac reasons; and (3) Recognize potential complications that may occur during the course of a VAD patient's inpatient rehabilitation stay.

LEVEL

Advanced ACCREDITATION: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Cerebral blood flow responses to exercise are enhanced in left ventricular assist device patients after an exercise rehabilitation program

Cerebral blood flow during exercise is impaired in patients with heart failure implanted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Our aim was to determine whether a 3-mo exercise training program could mitigate cerebrovascular dysfunction. Internal carotid artery (ICA) blood flow and intracranial middle (MCAv) and posterior cerebral (PCAv) artery velocities were measured continuously using Doppler ultrasound, alongside cardiorespiratory measures at rest and in response to an incremental cycle ergometer exercise protocol in 12 LVAD participants (5 female, 53.6 ± 11.8 yr; 84.2 ± 15.7 kg; 1.73 ± 0.08) pre- (PreTR) and post- (PostTR) completion of a 3-mo supervised exercise rehabilitation program. At rest, only PCAv was different PostTR (38.1 ± 10.4 cm/s) compared with PreTR (43.0 ± 10.8 cm/s; P < 0.05). PreTR, the reduction in PCAv observed from rest to exercise (5.2 ± 1.8%) was mitigated PostTR (P < 0.001). Similarly, exercise training enhanced ICA flow during submaximal exercise (~8.6 ± 13.7%), resulting in increased ICA flow PostTR compared with a reduced flow PreTR (P < 0.001). Although both end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide and mean arterial pressure responses during incremental exercise were greater PostTR than PreTR, only the improved PETCO2 was related to the improved ICA flow (R² = 0.14; P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that short-term exercise training improves cerebrovascular function during exercise in patients with LVADs. This finding should encourage future studies investigating long-term exercise training and cerebral and peripheral vascular adaptation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Left ventricular assist devices, now used as destination therapy in end-stage heart failure, enable patients to undertake rehabilitative exercise training. We show, for the first time in humans, that training improves cerebrovascular function during exercise in patients with left ventricular assist devices. This finding may have implications for cerebrovascular health in patients with heart failure.

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

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.

Outcomes of Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Subsequent Stroke

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the functional outcomes and medical complications of patients with left ventricular assist device implantation and subsequent stroke during comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of 21 patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility between 2009 and 2015. Main outcome measurements include admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure, length of stay, and Functional Independence Measure efficiency.

RESULTS

The study included 17 male and 4 female patients aged 32-75 yrs. Eleven patients (52%) required transfer to an acute care hospital for evaluation. Fifteen patients completed inpatient rehabilitation with median [interquartile range] length of stay 26 [13.5-34] days (range = 7-59 days), median [interquartile range] Functional Independence Measure gain of 18 [12.5-32], and median [interquartile range] Functional Independence Measure efficiency of 1.0 [0.6-1.44]. Patients who required transfer to acute care during their course but ultimately completed inpatient rehabilitation (n = 5) demonstrated larger median [interquartile range] Functional Independence Measure gain (40 [23-42]) and longer median [interquartile range] length of stay (35 [35-42]) compared with patients who completed inpatient rehabilitation without transfer (Functional Independence Measure gain = 15 [9.25-26.5]; length of stay = 14.5 [11.5-26.25]).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with left ventricular assist device implantation and subsequent stroke demonstrate functional gains during acute inpatient rehabilitation programs. A large percent of patients required transfer to acute care.