Physioterapic assessment of pacients in a waiting list for lung transplantation

Abstract

Pulmonary transplantation is an option of treatment for patients with advanced pulmonary disease. Advancements of medicine, new operatory techniques and immunosuppressant drugs, and a major care for patients on the waiting lung transplantation list and those who underwent by a surgery could improve the results of such kind of treatment. Purpose: To verify the profile of the lung transplantation candidates who were submitted to pulmonary rehabilitation on the Physiotherapy ambulatory of Thoracic Surgery. Methods: A retrospective study performed from May/2006 to April/2008. The following data were collected from physioterapic assessment: anthropometric data, pulmonary function, maximal respiratory pressures and distance performed in a six-minute walking test (6MWT). Results: 7 patients with mean age of 41,71 ± 9,81 years participated in the study: 4 patients presented pulmonary fibrosis, 1 presented chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 1 with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and 1 histiocytosis X. All patients except the individual presenting COPD had a decrease in the respiratory muscle strength. The mean maximal inspiratory pressure was 56,42 ± 33,87 cmH2O, and the mean maximal expiratory pressure was 76,42 ± 18,86 cmH₂O. All patients walked less than expected on the 6MWT, mainly those who showed pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusion: Subjects presented a decrease of the respiratory muscle strength and in the ability to perform exercises, suggesting that physiotherapy might help lung transplantation candidates.