Ambulatory status and related factors in patients with spinal cord ischemia due to aortic aneurysm.

Background: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is a serious complication that can occur at the onset of aortic aneurysm (AA) or after AA surgery. SCI impairs ambulation in patients. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding ambulatory status and its associated factors.

Independent predictors and equation of six-minute walk test in post-cardiac surgery.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been used to evaluate postsurgical recovery in cardiac patients. No previous study has compared the 6MWT at follow-up with a baseline, or evaluated the long-term effects of cardiac surgery on post-discharge 6MWT OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors independently associated with 6MWD, and to develop an equation to predict 6MWT at the 4-6-week follow-up after post-cardiac surgery hospital discharge.

Methods: Patient data of elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or non-CABG surgery patients were retrospectively collected.

Effects of Buddhist walking meditation on exercise capacity and quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Buddhist walking meditation (BWM) is widely practiced in many countries. However, there is a lack of evidence relating to its effectiveness for patients with heart failure (HF).

Purpose: To determine the effects of a six-week BWM program on exercise capacity, quality of life, and hemodynamic response in patients with chronic HF.

Effectiveness of Incentive Spirometry on Inspiratory Muscle Strength After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Background: Although the use of incentive spirometry with a deep breathing exercise (DBE) is widely used in clinical practice in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the effect of this combination therapy has not been conclusively elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of postoperative combined incentive spirometry and DBE versus DBE alone on inspiratory muscle strength following CABG.

Method: This randomised clinical trial was conducted in patients scheduled to undergo CABG surgery at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok Thailand.

Effect of lung transplantation on heart rate response to exercise.

Objectives: To evaluate if patients have a change in percent of predicted heart rate reserve used at peak exercise (%HRR) after lung transplantation, even at matching workloads.

Background: Lung disease of obstructive, restrictive, and mixed types may be associated with an autonomic imbalance. Lung transplantation may improve the effects of pulmonary disease on cardiac function.

Ventilatory efficiency before and after lung volume reduction surgery.

Background: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been shown to improve the clearance of carbon dioxide and minute ventilation (V̇E) in select patients with COPD. One variable often assessed in COPD is ventilatory efficiency (V̇E/V̇CO2 ).

Methods: We compared 55 LVRS subjects with 25 controls from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial.

Commercial insurance coverage for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart failure in the United States.

Background: Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF), studies suggest variable uptake by patients with HF, as well as variable coverage by insurance carriers. The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of large commercial health insurance companies that provide coverage for outpatient (CR) for patients with HF.

Methods: We identified a sample of the largest US commercial health care providers and analyzed their CR coverage policies for patients with HF.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on exercise performance in patients with interstitial lung disease undergoing evaluation for lung transplantation.

Background And Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known complication in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an essential tool for the assessment of patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases due to its prognostic and therapeutic implications. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between CPET response and mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAP) in ILD.

Comparing cardiopulmonary exercise testing in severe COPD patients with and without pulmonary hypertension.

Purpose: To determine; (i) the effect of PH on exercise capacity, gas exchange and oxygen pulse; (ii) the variables that correlate with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in severe COPD patients.

Methods: We reviewed 98 severe COPD patients who had pulmonary function, right heart catheterisation, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performed within six months of each other. PH was defined by a resting mPAP > 25 mmHg.

Comparison of cardiopulmonary exercise testing variables in COPD patients with and without coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common concomitant condition and an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since COPD and CAD can both independently cause reduced exercise capacity, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the combination of these diseases may compound the abnormalities observed during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). However, little is known about the impact of CAD on the CPET response in COPD patients.

Exercise capacity and ventilatory response during exercise in COPD patients with and without β blockade.

Background: Although β blockade (BB) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) does not show signs of worsening pulmonary function or respiratory symptoms, the effects on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether BB affects exercise capacity, gas exchange, and hemodynamic responses in patients with COPD.

Methods: Twenty-four COPD subjects on BB were matched to 24 COPD subjects without BB according to age, gender, body mass index, and severity of COPD.

Distinguishing pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease by ventilation and perfusion defects measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in interstitial lung disease (ILD). Since cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is useful in understanding the pathophysiology of respiratory disorders and can distinguish between ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) defects, it may have a role in the detection of PH in ILD. We evaluated whether CPET can detect PH through analysis of V/Q defects in ILD.

Right ventricular stroke work index as a negative predictor of mortality and initial hospital stay after lung transplantation.

Background: Studies have shown that patients with poor pre-lung transplant (LTx) right ventricular (RV) function have prolonged post-operative ventilation time and intensive care stay as well as a higher risk of in-hospital death. RV stroke work index (RVSWI) calculates RV workload and contractility. We hypothesized that patients with higher RV workload capacity, indicated by higher RVSWI, would have better outcomes after LTx.

Differences in gas exchange between severities of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Impaired ventilation on cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, evaluation of the differences of abnormal gas exchange in COPD according to GOLD severity criteria is limited. A retrospective review was performed on all COPD patients referred for CPET at our center between 1998 and 2010.