title: An Appropriate Population for Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation? A Case Series of Three Patients With Advanced Heart Failure on Continuous Inotropic Support.
abstract: The number of individuals with heart failure and the treatment modalities available to manage heart failure are increasing. Continuous inotropic support is a treatment modality used in cases of severe heart failure. Although most patients initiated on continuous inotropic support are discharged home, those with greater functional compromise, comorbid conditions that cause disability, or other significant medical complexity may be referred to acute inpatient rehabilitation. The feasibility and benefits of acute inpatient rehabilitation in this population, however, has yet to be investigated. We report the functional progress and medical complications of 3 patients on continuous inotropic support who participated in acute inpatient rehabilitation. The patients demonstrated varying levels of success, highlighting a need for evidence-based, preadmission screening criteria for this population.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(∗). Electronic address: zmccormi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zachary L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(†).
authors.forename: Samuel K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(‡).
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(§).
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(¶).
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reger
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chicago, IL(‖).
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sliwa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents