title: Early exercise training after mitral valve repair: a multicentric prospective French study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical mitral valve (MV) repair is now the best technique to correct mitral regurgitation (MR). However, clinical studies have shown that without exercise training (ET), there is no significant postoperative exercise tolerance improvement. Moreover, healing duration of the MV wound is not well known; thus, the feasibility of an early ET program (ETP) may be discussed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety and feasibility of an early ETP after MV repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients hospitalized in 13 postoperative centers after MV repair from September 2002 to June 2003 were included in this prospective study. They underwent an ETP during 3 weeks on average. Transthoracic echocardiography and a cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed before and after the ETP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty-one consecutive patients (male gender, 70%; mean age, 59 +/- 14 years [+/- SD]) were included 16 +/- 10 days after MV repair. There was no MR occurrence or worsening after the ETP. Left ventricular ejection fraction slightly increased (53 +/- 10% vs 55 +/- 9%, p = 0.004). Peak oxygen consumption and anaerobic threshold increased from 16.3 +/- 4.5 to 20.0 +/- 6.0 mL/kg/min (22% increase) and from 12.2 +/- 3.8 to 14.2 +/- 4.3 mL/kg/min (16% increase) respectively, (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET after MV repair does not deteriorate the outcome of recent surgery and seems efficient.
authors.affiliation: Les Grands Prés, Centre de Réadaptation Cardiaque de la Brie, 27 rue Sainte Christine, 77174 Villeneuve Saint Denis, France. philippemeurin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meurin
authors.forename: Marie Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Iliou
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Driss
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corone
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cristofini
authors.forename: Jean Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tabet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome