What Happens to Frailty in the First Year After Lung Transplantation?

Background: Frailty is prevalent in lung transplant (LTx) candidates, but the impact and subsequent frailty trajectory is unclear. This study aimed to investigate frailty over the first year after LTx.

Method: Post-LTx recipients completed a thrice weekly 12-week directly supervised exercise rehabilitation program.

Utility of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant in predicting outcomes before and after lung transplantation.

Background: Optimizing donor use and achieving maximal survival following lung transplantation (LTx) require a pretransplant assessment that identifies clinical, physiological, and psychosocial patient factors associated with both poor and optimal post-LTx survival. We examined the utility of a psychosocial tool, the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT), to identify patient suitability for LTx, as well as its association with clinical outcomes before and after LTx.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-center study analyzing LTx assessment clinical variables (age, gender, diagnosis, functional capacity, nutrition, renal function), with a particular focus on the utility of the SIPAT score, to predict patient suitability for LTx.

Can we HALT obesity following lung transplant? A Dietitian- and Physiotherapy-directed pilot intervention.

Introduction: Unintentional weight gain, overweight and obesity following solid organ transplantation (SOT) are well-established and linked to morbidity and mortality risk factors. No interventional studies aimed at prevention have been undertaken among lung transplant (LTx) recipients. The combination of group education and telephone coaching is effective in the general population but is untested among SOT cohorts.

Post-operative, inpatient rehabilitation after lung transplant evaluation (PIRATE): A feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative rehabilitation is crucial following lung transplantation (LTx); however, it is unclear whether intensive rehabilitation is feasible to deliver in the acute setting. We aimed to establish the feasibility and safety of intensive acute physiotherapy post-LTx.

Methods: This feasibility trial randomized 40 adults following bilateral sequential LTx to either standard (once-daily) or intensive (twice-daily) physiotherapy.

High-intensity interval training in patients with left ventricular assist devices: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is an established treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. To date, studies evaluating the impact of aerobic training in patients with LVADs have focused on moderate-intensity exercise.

Methods: This pilot randomized controlled trial compared the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with those of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on peak oxygen consumption (V̇O peak) in patients with LVADs.

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial of polymer cable ties versus standard wire closure of midline sternotomy.

Objective: Midline sternotomy remains the most common access incision for cardiac operations. Traditionally, the sternum is closed with stainless steel wires. Wires are well known to stretch and break, however, leading to pain, nonunion, and potential deep sternal wound infection.

Reliability of sternal instability scale (SIS) for transverse sternotomy in lung transplantation (LTX).

Unlabelled: A surgical incision for bilateral sequential lung transplantation (BSLTX) is the "clam shell" (CSI) approach via bilateral anterior thoracotomies and a transverse sternotomy to allow for sequential replacement of the lungs. This can be associated with significant post-operative pain, bony overriding or sternal instability. The sternal instability scale (SIS) is a non-invasive manual assessment tool that can be used to detect early bony non-union or instability following CSI; however, its reliability is unknown.

Physical Function in Subjects Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Before or After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used as a rescue therapy before and after lung transplantation, but little is known about functional recovery or complications after ECMO in this cohort. This study aimed to describe early physical function and leg complications in subjects who received ECMO before or after lung transplantation, and to compare functional outcomes to a matched cohort of subjects who did not require ECMO.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 2 years.

Effect of Upper Limb Rehabilitation Compared to No Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a supervised upper limb (UL) program (SULP) compared to no supervised UL program (NULP) after lung transplantation (LTx).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Physiotherapy gym.

Longer Versus Shorter Duration of Supervised Rehabilitation After Lung Transplantation: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a supervised longer- (14wk) versus shorter-duration (7wk) rehabilitation program after lung transplantation (LTX).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation gym setting.

Physical function after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients pre or post heart transplantation - An observational study.

Objective: To describe physical function, leg complications and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the three months following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) pre- or post-heart transplantation (HTx).

Background: Little is known about functional recovery following ECMO before or after HTx.

Methods: A 2-year retrospective study in patients who received ECMO pre or post HTx.

Physiotherapy for cystic fibrosis in Australia and New Zealand: A clinical practice guideline.

Physiotherapy management is a key element of care for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) throughout the lifespan. Although considerable evidence exists to support physiotherapy management of CF, there is documented variation in practice. The aim of this guideline is to optimize the physiotherapy management of people with CF in Australia and New Zealand.

Successful treatment of a patient with severe atopic dermatitis and severe asthma by centrifugal therapeutic plasma exchange.

This is a case of a 42-year-old atopic man with severe atopic dermatitis and asthma who despite long-term immunosuppression was not well controlled. He had a very high IgE at 7897 Iu/mL prior to treatment. He underwent two therapeutic plasma exchanges (TPEs) through two peripheral lines in our outpatient department, which led to an absolute decrease of 44.