The rehabilitation programs implemented at the Cardiological Rehabilitation Functional Unit propose:

• to improve the tolerance to the effort and to promote the psychophysical well-being of the patient
• to manage cardiac compensation
• to improve the cardiovascular profile with the control of risk factors, for the benefit of quality of life

Patients access the cardiology rehabilitation program after:

• recent cardiac surgery, acute myocardial infarction and coronary angioplasty, coming directly from acute structures
• previous cardiac surgery or cardiovascular diseases and to perform a rehabilitation cycle

Approximately 500 patients are hospitalized every year, for a total of 7300 days of hospitalization.

We follow patients:

• coming directly from the cardiac surgery departments, for rehabilitation cycles following recent coronary revascularization (by by-pass or angioplasty) or interesting mitral and / or aortic valves
• hospitalized following myocardial infarction
• suffering from peripheral obliterative arteriopathy
• as a result of previous cardiovascular procedures

The presence of concomitant pathologies in these patients determines the need for many therapeutic and physiotherapeutic specialists: the multidisciplinary team is composed of medical specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, diabetology, geriatrics.

Physical activity is followed by physiotherapeutic and nursing staff, based on a personalized treatment plan, identified by the referring doctor. Activities can be carried out:

• in a group, in a dedicated gym, using an exercise bike and a treadmill; during the first days of this activity patients are monitored to allow electrocardiographic control
• individually, if necessary, at the patient’s room

The functional Cardiac Rehabilitation unit has:

• 30 beds, available in 15 twin-bedded rooms with bathroom in the hospital wing
• dining rooms, living room and waiting room

To evaluate the effectiveness of the rehabilitative treatments, we use some outcome indicators, among which there is the Borg scale, which estimates the stress perception perceived by the patient in carrying out a determined physical activity.

“Educational moments” are important components of the rehabilitation program; they are made weekly, every Friday at 17.00, by the doctor responsible for the Functional Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit through a lesson about health information, aimed at illustrating cardiovascular risk factors, the principles of proper nutrition and problems related to returning to the family and the world of work.

The diagnostic-therapeutic pathways in use are described in the medical protocols and they are identified with the Guidelines issued by the Italian Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Prevention Group.

The rehabilitation programs implemented at the Vascular Rehabilitation Functional Unit propose:

• increase the free running time in intermittent claudication
• manage chronic stable ischemia patients who are not suitable for vascular surgery
• sovercome the problems resulting from revascularization of the lower limbs (post-operative pain, management of trophic lesions, revascularization edema, chronic muscular deconditioning)
• improve the cardiovascular profile with the control of risk factors, thus reducing morbidity and mortality

Patients enter the vascular rehabilitation program coming:

• from the hospital, following recent vascular surgery (due to problems with ischemia of the lower limbs)
• from their home, if affected by AOCP II and III stadium in Fontaine

Approximately 40 patients are hospitalized at the Vascular Rehabilitation Unit every year, with an average hospitalization ranging from 2 to 3 weeks depending on the case.

As for patients of cardiological rehabilitation, the presence of concomitant pathologies determines the need for a therapeutic and physiotherapeutic path carried out by a multidisciplinary team composed of cardiologists, pulmonologists, diabetologists, physiatrists, neurologists.

Physical activity is assisted by physiotherapeutic and nursing staff, on the basis of the personalized treatment plan, identified by the referring doctor.

It is carried out:

• in a group, in a gym dedicated to cardiovascular rehabilitation through the use of a treadmill
• individually, if necessary, at the patient’s room, depending on individual problems

If the treadmill path is not practicable, the patient will perform free walking exercises over measured distances.

To evaluate the efficacy of the therapies we use outcome indicators that evaluate the distance traveled to the treadmill and the 6MWT path test at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation period, as well as the free and absolute interval of claudication, the recovery, and the Borg scale. It represents a scale of effort perception that considers the fatigue subjectively experienced by the patient while performing the physical activity.