PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session III. - P: Health Sciences

Physiotherapy of patients with left ventricular assist device in the Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center

Name of the presenter

Kardos Koppány

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center

Authors

Koppany Kardos¹, Dr. Péter Takács¹

1: Gottsegen National Cardiovascular Center

Text of the abstract

Introduction: The definitive therapy for advanced heart failure is heart transplantation. However, the demand for donor hearts far exceeds the supply, so the implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is widely used as a bridge to transplant or as destination therapy. The success of this approach requires teamwork, with movement therapy led by physiotherapists being an essential component.

Results: Left ventricular assist device therapy is performed in more than 70 institutions across 26 ESC member countries. Since the inception of the LVAD program at our hospital in Hungary, 72 patients have benefited from this treatment. Based on publications on movement therapy and the practice at our institution, sufficient information is available regarding the physiotherapy care of this patient group. According to international literature, nearly all patients undergoing LVAD implantation benefit from some form of rehabilitation exercise program. At our institution, following early postoperative mobilization and respiratory physiotherapy, patients' rehabilitation most often continues in the cardiology department. They participate in personalized exercise therapy, including aerobic training, resistance training, and balance exercises. Upon discharge, and during follow-up examinations, patients' exercise capacity is assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and SF-36 tests. Six months after discharge, a significant improvement in patients' 6MWT (predischarge 351m±98,8; 6 months postdischarge 523m±73) and in SF-36s’ pain scores (p=0,025) can be observed.

Conclusions: A key factor in the success of LVAD treatment is a well-structured and professionally administered exercise therapy, which improves patients' quality of life and, in some cases, increases their chances of successfully reaching transplantation.