Functional outcomes in a patient with a total artificial heart

Abstract

A patient with biventricular heart failure received a total artificial heart (TAH) as a bridge to transplant. He had a complicated hospital course including postoperative bleeding, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and adjustment disorder. After participating in 6 months of a rehabilitation program, his Berg balance score progressed from 8 to 41 and his endurance improved from ambulating 75 feet with a rolling walker and requiring moderate assistance in his activities of daily living on admission to ambulating several times up to 200 feet with modified independent and modified independent with setup for his basic activities of daily living. Since few patients have undergone inpatient rehabilitation with a TAH, this case illustrates significant functional gains that a comprehensive rehabilitation team can provide and major considerations to be aware of to optimize care when working with patients with TAH.

Keywords

• acute inpatient rehabilitation
• cardiac rehabilitation
• syncardia
• total artificial heart