title: [Referral to cardiac rehabilitation of patients with left ventricular assist devices in Italy].
abstract: In recent years, the lack of heart donors caused an increase in the proportion of patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The clinical complexity of these devices requires a multidisciplinary approach to be extended after hospital discharge. The lack of shared care pathways for these patients may result in an impairment of both of short- and long-term results. Available data show that cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves physical performance and quality of life. Notwithstanding this, there is a lack of information about its effects on mortality, hospitalizations and major complications. This article is a survey focus on the referral to CR facilities and the number and types of LVAD implanted in Italy. Among the 24 Italian cardiac surgery centers that have been contacted, 22 provided their data: from 2012 to 2014, 260 patients underwent LVAD implantation with an in-hospital post-surgical mortality of 10%, and 77% of patients were admitted to CR facilities. For patients with LVAD, a referral to an inpatient rehabilitation unit may be considered appropriate.
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panzarino
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavanelli
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toccafondi
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bordoni
authors.affiliation: U.O. Cardiologia Riabilitativa, IRCSS Santa Maria Nascente, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferratini
mesh_terms: D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007558:Italy; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*