Comparison of two models of hospital rehabilitation in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting

INTRODUCTION: Taking into consideration the rise in ischemic heart disease and the increasing number of performed cardiac surgery procedures, attempts have been made to prepare an optimal rehabilitation program enabling the effective improvement of patient condition in the shortest possible time-frame that would be of most benefit for the patients [1, 2]. AIM OF THE STUDY: Aim of the study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy of two rehabilitation models (I – a modified model, and II – the standard cardiac rehabilitation model of the Polish Cardiac Society) during early hospitalization in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between December 2011 and April 2012, the study examined 42 men (aged 48-76) who underwent myocardial revascularization at the Clinic of Cardiac Surgery of the 1(st) Chair and Clinic of Cardiology of the Medical University of Warsaw. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: A (model I) and B (model II), with 21 patients in each group. The qualification process for the procedures was planned, the postoperative course was uneventful, and the patients were discharged from the ward as normal (between the 7(th) and 10(th) postoperative day). In order to compare the two employed models, a 6-minute walk test was conducted during the 7(th) day of postoperative rehabilitation. RESULTS: Differences between the study groups were revealed with regard to heart rate values (group A – mean heart rate before the test: 78 bpm, after the test: 82 bpm; group B – mean heart rate before the test: 82 bpm, after the test: 87 bpm) and perceived exertion (group A – mean exertion level: 0.5 points, group B – mean exertion level: 0.7 points). CONCLUSIONS: The modified rehabilitation model exerts a better therapeutic effect on the patients than the standard one. The introduced modifications are safe, as the applied physical exertion is well tolerated by patients.