Improvements in functional and cognitive status following short-term pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD lung transplant recipients: a pilot study.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) following lung transplantation (LTx) is considered part of the optimal treatment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for favourable post-operative outcomes. We investigated the effects of a PR intervention in the post-transplant phase with regard to lung function, exercise responses and cognitive function in COPD LTx recipients.

Methods: 24 COPD LTx recipients (mean±sd forced expiratory volume in 1 s 75±22% predicted) were assigned to a comprehensive 3-week inpatient PR programme.