Cardiorespiratory fitness is the strongest survival indicator, no matter the patient’s condition. The same goes for surgical risk. Patients who are waiting for a transplant, for example, and who are hospitalized due to instability in their heart condition, can lose fitness quickly, even if they’re otherwise in good physical health.

Being confined to a care unit and not having the space to keep up daily activities while awaiting surgery can contribute to a significant increase in transplant-related risk during extended hospital stays. To limit deconditioning in patients who are otherwise likely to have a positive outcome, we’ve decided to give them free access to the Pavillon de prévention des maladies cardiaques (PPMC) heart and stroke prevention facility at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec – Université Laval (IUCPQ-UL).

This cardiac, pulmonary and metabolic rehabilitation centre is usually reserved for ambulatory patients. Patients awaiting surgery can stay connected to their monitors and drips while exercising under the supervision of qualified kinesiologists to maintain and even improve their physical fitness before they go into the OR. This contributes significantly to reducing surgical risk, minimizing the number of postoperative events and shortening hospital stays. What’s more, it improves patients’ quality of life during and after hospitalization.

Since the program was launched in April 2024, 6 patients—most of whom were ages 20–40—have benefited from this approach thanks to the collaboration of the medical team, transplant clinic, healthcare staff and the multidisciplinary team at the heart and stroke prevention facility.

Lead:
Mickael Martin, Kinesiologist

Contributors:
Paul Poirier, Cardiologist
Rosalie Demers-Bouchard, Senior Advisor for Activities at the Nursing Directorate (DSI)
Marie-Pierre Sirois, Kinesiologist / Coordinator
Geneviève Lemire, Nursing Care Advisor at the Nursing Directorate (DSI)