Pulmonary endarterectomy in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: short-term functional assessment in a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
Presently, the surgical treatment choice in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) consists in a pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). The aim of the present study is the functional assessment of patients submitted to PEA both preoperatively and shortly after the intervention. A longitudinal study was developed to study the quality and quantity of functional performance possible in these subjects.


METHODS
Twenty-two subjects were assessed immediately prior to PEA and 3 months later in order to obtain quantitative measurements of short-term functional recovery. The functional assessment included the 6-min walk test (6mWT), the measurement of the oxygen percent saturation (HbS%O(2)) and the degree of dyspnea subjectively perceived by each patient.


RESULTS
Three months after the surgical intervention, there was a definite increase in the number of meters walked during the 6mWT with respect to preintervention; the difference between the distances walked in the 6mWT (6mWD) in the pre and post-PEA was statistically significant (Paired t-test P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study the 6mWT resulted to be a useful tool in the functional evaluation of patients affected by CTEPH and submitted to PEA. The average 6mWD significantly improved already at 3 months after the intervention, thus reaching the minimum limit of the range predicted for the healthy control, but remains lower than the average theoretical value predicted (about 75% of the same).
Petrucci
L
L
Department of Rehabilitation, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy. l.petrucci@smatteo.pv.it
Carlisi
E
E
Ricotti
S
S
Klersy
C
C
D'Armini
A M
AM
Viganò
M
M
Dalla Toffola
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004691:Endarterectomy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome