title: Rehabilitation and 6-minute walk test after liver transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measurement of exercise capacity is an integral element to assess patients after surgery. Although the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) provides information regarding functional capacity, response to therapy, and prognosis across a range of conditions, its applicability for liver transplant recipients remains to be established. The aim of our study was to examine whether the 6MWT in combination with a subjective rating of perceived exertion (Borg Scale [BS]) could be used to evaluate exercise capacity among patients after liver transplantation (OLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen consecutive subjects were enrolled in this single-center study during routine rehabilitation of the 6MWT and BS. At days 7 and 14 after OLT seeking to assess objective and subjective exercise capacities, we recorded basic clinical parameters, including body weight, blood pressure, heart rate and temperature. The results as compared between days 7 and 14 were related to the reference values for age-, height- and weight-matched healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 7, normal 6MWT was achieved by one patient and at day 14-, by three patients. At days 7 and 14, the average distances of 6MWT were 326.7 m and 421 m, respectively (P<.05), indicating a significant increase in exercise capacity. The average BS rating did not change significantly between days 7 and 14, indicating, that the increased exercise capacity was achieved without excessive effort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that the 6MWT and BS may represent inexpensive and safe assessment methods for exercise capacity after OLT. This evaluation may be helpful to plan and optimize post-OLT rehabilitation.
authors: Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. b_foronc@yahoo.com
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Foroncewicz
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mucha
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Szparaga
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Raczyńska
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ciszek
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Pilecki
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Krawczyk
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Pączek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology