Importance of physical rehabilitation before and after cardiac transplantation in a patient with myotonic dystrophy: a case report.
Patients with muscular dystrophy and concomitant cardiomyopathy are only reluctantly accepted for heart transplantation because of the perioperative risk secondary to respiratory muscle weakness. We describe a man with Steinert's disease (myotonic dystrophy) who received a cardiac allograft because of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. This case shows the importance of uninterrupted physiotherapeutic training and assistance to minimize respiratory infections and ventilatory insufficiency in patients with muscle diseases under high-dose immunosuppression. To our knowledge, this is the first heart transplantation reported in a patient with Steinert's disease who has clinically overt muscular impairment.
Conraads
Viviane M
VM
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerpen, Edegem, Belgium. Viviane.Conraads@uza.uia.ac.be
Beckers
Paul J
PJ
Vorlat
Anne
A
Vrints
Christiaan J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care