title: High intensity exercise training programme following cardiac transplant.
abstract: A 26-year-old male patient who presented with symptoms of end stage cardiac failure as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy, had an orthotopic cardiac transplantation. A comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme was provided to him and he was introduced to a sport (tennis). The exercise training programme progressed from low intensity training to high intensity programme over a period of 15 months. A cardio-pulmonary exercise test done 22 months after surgery suggested that he was able to achieve the aerobic capacity comparable to that of a normal South Indian subject. He participated successfully in the World Transplant Games in Sydney and returned safely. This suggests that after a proper cardiac rehabilitation programme, patients undergoing heart transplantation can achieve normal physiological responses to lead a normal active life.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardio-vascular Diseases, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rajendran
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Pandurangi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mullasari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomathy
authors.forename: K V Kuppu
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Vijayan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male