Improvement of physical activity levels in children and adolescents after surgery for congenital heart disease: preferences and use of physical therapy

Abstract

Purpose: After surgery for congenital heart disease in children and adolescents, an active lifestyle is important to achieve and maintain good physical fitness. This study aimed to describe physical activity, as well as the use of patients' and parents' preferences for rehabilitative care after surgery for congenital heart disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 4-16 years old, who had undergone surgery for congenital heart disease 2 years prior to the study onset. Patients and/or parents were invited to complete questionnaires on physical activity, and on their preferences for, and -use of, rehabilitative care after surgery. Results: Forty-five of the 92 eligible patients and/or parents completed the questionnaires. The median age of the children was 12.2 years (IQR 7.8-16.1). Two children (4%) met the recommendations for taking part in moderate physical activity and 13 (29%) having done so for vigorous physical activity. Postoperatively 15 children (33%) had had physical therapy in primary care. More than 50% of the patients/parents would have preferred to have had more information on physical activity and to have taken part in an individual exercise program delivered during their primary care. Conclusion:The majority of eligible patients do not meet public health recommendations for engaging in physical activity and do not use physical therapy after surgery for congenital heart disease. The majority of patients and parents preferred more information as well as individual physical therapy treatments. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONSTwo years after surgery for congenital heart disease children and adolescents are less active compared to typically developing peers. Patients with a congenital heart disease and their parents need more information and support regarding stimulation of physical activity and physical fitness after heart surgery. In the postoperative process, a well-structured and supportive (individual) rehabilitation program should be introduced to improve physical activity and physical fitness.

Efficacy and Safety of Minimally Invasive Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Heart Disease under the Guidance of Transesophageal Ultrasound: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The traditional treatment of VSD is open thoracotomy under CPB. However, this technique requires median sternal incision, great trauma, more bleeding during operation, slow recovery after operation, CPB and transfusion of blood products, and potential complications of CPB after operation, such as cognitive dysfunction, coagulation disorder, and renal dysfunction [ 18 ]. The healing deformity after sternotomy and the incision scar located in the middle of the chest can cause psychological disorders and affect the long-term quality of life of the patients.…”

“…The healing deformity after sternotomy and the incision scar located in the middle of the chest can cause psychological disorders and affect the long-term quality of life of the patients. Percutaneous interventional occlusion of VSD in internal medicine was first completed by van Egmond Dam et al in the 1970s [ 18 ]. Due to its minimally invasive and beautiful incision, it is widely accepted [ 17 , 18 ].…”

“…The traditional treatment of VSD is open thoracotomy under CPB. However, this technique requires median sternal incision, great trauma, more bleeding during operation, slow recovery after operation, CPB and transfusion of blood products, and [18]. Due to its minimally invasive and beautiful incision, it is widely accepted [17,18].…”

“…However, this technique requires median sternal incision, great trauma, more bleeding during operation, slow recovery after operation, CPB and transfusion of blood products, and [18]. Due to its minimally invasive and beautiful incision, it is widely accepted [17,18]. However, percutaneous intervention in the department of internal medicine needs to be completed under the guidance of radiation, which can cause inevitable damage to doctors and patients, and it has been proved that long-term radiation irradiation has carcinogenic effect.…”

The Current Status of Neuroprotection in Congenital Heart Disease

“…A recent study reported that the majority of a CHD cohort did not meet guidelines for physical fitness and had not received physical therapy 2 years post-operatively. Further investigation should be conducted to determine if participation in physical therapy by patients with CHD will promote motor skill development [ 135 ].…”