title: Cardiac rehabilitation for a skydiver after aortic valve replacement for pure aortic regurgitation and resection of the ascending aorta complicated by active infective endocarditis and heart block requiring a pacemaker.
abstract: A professional skydiver underwent aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement complicated by infective endocarditis with root abscess and pacemaker implantation. He then enrolled in the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program as part of its specificity of testing and exercise training facility. He performed specific skydiving cardiovascular and muscular strength tests at the beginning and the end of the CR program. His pacemaker was interrogated to ascertain any arrhythmias or lead displacement over the course of the CR program. Daily exercise training was customized to match the physical demands of skydiving, including two sessions at iFLY Dallas. Upon completion of the daily exercise sessions, the patient performed a simulated free-fall drop test. He then performed a true jump at Dallas Skydive Center and subsequently traveled to Arizona for a skydiving competition, where he performed 35 true jumps with no adverse events or symptoms. This case illustrates how CR, tailored to a patient's specific needs, can aid in the return to rigorous activity.
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Tonja R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeJong
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bilbrey
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schussler
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology/Pacemaker Department (Solomon, DeJong) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department (Bilbrey, Carbone, Schussler, Adams), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital; Darwen Leisure Centre, Darwen, UK (Campbell); Private Consultant, Reno, Nevada (Parker) and Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil (Lira, Amarante).
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams