Aida Luiza Ribeiro Turquetto , Luciana Patrick Amato , Lene Thorup , Benjamin Kelly , Vibeke Elizabeth Hjortdal , Francis Ribeiro de Souza , Luiz Fernando Canêo , Desiree S. Machado , Antonio Carlos Battaglia Filho , Melissa Ganeko Ligeiro , Sheyanth Mohanakumar , Eduardo Rondon , Maria Angélica Binotto , Marcelo Biscegli Jatene , Fabio Biscegli Jatene
{"title":"Online rehabilitation in adult Fontan patients: Effects in functional capacity, lymphatic function and quality of life","authors":"Aida Luiza Ribeiro Turquetto , Luciana Patrick Amato , Lene Thorup , Benjamin Kelly , Vibeke Elizabeth Hjortdal , Francis Ribeiro de Souza , Luiz Fernando Canêo , Desiree S. Machado , Antonio Carlos Battaglia Filho , Melissa Ganeko Ligeiro , Sheyanth Mohanakumar , Eduardo Rondon , Maria Angélica Binotto , Marcelo Biscegli Jatene , Fabio Biscegli Jatene","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.133480","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Survival rates for post-Fontan patients have improved, allowing many to reach adulthood with better quality of life (QOL). However, they remain at risk for reduced functional capacity (FC), skeletal muscle loss, and lymphatic dysfunction, which negatively affect clinical outcomes. This study evaluated the feasibility of an online rehabilitation program for adult Fontan patients in the late postoperative period and its effects on FC, peripheral lymphatic function (PLF), and QOL.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This prospective, non-randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact of a fitness center's 36-session online aerobic and resistance training program. Participants were divided into a control group (CG), continuing usual activities, and an exercise group (EG). Outcomes included QOL (Short Form-36 questionnaire: SF-36), FC via cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and PLF assessed using near-infrared fluorescence imaging and venous occlusion plethysmography.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 26 participants (13 EG,13 CG), with a median age of 30 (25–35) years, and follow-up time after Fontan of 19 (15–21) years, were enrolled. The EG showed significant improvements in peak VO2 (ml/kg/min), predicted peak VO2 (%), peak ventilation (L/min), and oxygen pulse (mL/beat), indicating enhanced cardiovascular efficiency. Additionally, 62 % of SF-36 domains improved in the EG, while no changes were observed in the CG. However, the program did not produce significant modifications in PLF.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The proposed online rehabilitation program proved to be feasible and effectively improved FC and quality of life in adults after Fontan surgery; however, this training model did not significantly influence peripheral lymphatic function<strong>.</strong></div></div>","PeriodicalId":13710,"journal":{"name":"International journal of cardiology","volume":"437 ","pages":"Article 133480"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International journal of cardiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167527325005236","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Survival rates for post-Fontan patients have improved, allowing many to reach adulthood with better quality of life (QOL). However, they remain at risk for reduced functional capacity (FC), skeletal muscle loss, and lymphatic dysfunction, which negatively affect clinical outcomes. This study evaluated the feasibility of an online rehabilitation program for adult Fontan patients in the late postoperative period and its effects on FC, peripheral lymphatic function (PLF), and QOL.
Methods
This prospective, non-randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluated the impact of a fitness center's 36-session online aerobic and resistance training program. Participants were divided into a control group (CG), continuing usual activities, and an exercise group (EG). Outcomes included QOL (Short Form-36 questionnaire: SF-36), FC via cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and PLF assessed using near-infrared fluorescence imaging and venous occlusion plethysmography.
Results
A total of 26 participants (13 EG,13 CG), with a median age of 30 (25–35) years, and follow-up time after Fontan of 19 (15–21) years, were enrolled. The EG showed significant improvements in peak VO2 (ml/kg/min), predicted peak VO2 (%), peak ventilation (L/min), and oxygen pulse (mL/beat), indicating enhanced cardiovascular efficiency. Additionally, 62 % of SF-36 domains improved in the EG, while no changes were observed in the CG. However, the program did not produce significant modifications in PLF.
Conclusions
The proposed online rehabilitation program proved to be feasible and effectively improved FC and quality of life in adults after Fontan surgery; however, this training model did not significantly influence peripheral lymphatic function.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Cardiology is devoted to cardiology in the broadest sense. Both basic research and clinical papers can be submitted. The journal serves the interest of both practicing clinicians and researchers.
In addition to original papers, we are launching a range of new manuscript types, including Consensus and Position Papers, Systematic Reviews, Meta-analyses, and Short communications. Case reports are no longer acceptable. Controversial techniques, issues on health policy and social medicine are discussed and serve as useful tools for encouraging debate.