A rehabilitative approach to patients with internal cardioverter-defibrillators
2001; BMJ; Volume: 85; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1136/heart.85.4.371
ISSN2053-5864
Autores Tópico(s)Pain Management and Treatment
ResumoIn the UK the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently reviewed the value of internal cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and has recommended an increase in their use. The guidance includes the recommendation that centres that implant devices should provide “A rehabilitative approach to aftercare which includes psychological preparation for living with an ICD”.1 The first solution that may occur to clinicians is to appoint a liaison nurse, but would this constitute a rehabilitative approach, or be the best solution for patients? We recently initiated a rehabilitation programme for ICD patients and, before doing so, reviewed the literature to answer two questions: Systematic review and meta-analysis have established that a cardiac rehabilitation programme can improve survival, functional ability, and quality of life in post-myocardial infarction and cardiac surgery patients. It is not, as many think, simply an exercise programme. To be effective it must include attention to secondary prevention through lifestyle change, and attention to the patient's psychological and social adjustment to coronary artery disease.2 ### SURVIVAL BENEFITS It might be thought that ICD patients are protected from sudden death so have little to gain in this respect. Unfortunately arrhythmias remain the cause of death in 60% of these patients.3 It is not clear how cardiac rehabilitation reduces mortality but, as it does not reduce the rate of reinfarction, it may be through protecting the ischaemic heart from arrhythmia and this may be due to exercise. Animal work has shown that exercise training reduces lethal arrhythmias, probably through a shift in the autonomic balance towards an increased vagal effect4; similar shifts have been demonstrated in exercised post-myocardial infarction patients.5 Cardiac rehabilitation has also been shown to reduce …
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