Johan Heiberg1, Annemette K Petersen2, Sussie Laustsen2, Vibeke E Hjortdal3. 1. Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine and Centre of Research in Rehabilitation (CORIR), Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Electronic address: johan.heiberg@clin.au.dk. 2. Dept. of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine and Centre of Research in Rehabilitation (CORIR), Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. 3. Dept. of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; Dept. of Clinical Medicine and Centre of Research in Rehabilitation (CORIR), Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are normally closed in early childhood, and postsurgical physical capacity is generally considered normal. Despite an increasing understanding of late cardiac morbidity among these patients, long-term pulmonary function remains to be investigated. Therefore, the aim of this prospective follow-up study was to describe ventilatory function during exercise in VSD-repaired adults operated in early life. METHODS: We tested cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in 27 patients and 30 healthy control subjects on an ergometer cycle. Each test was preceded by a standard spirometry, and the exercise test was performed as a maximal incremental test. Pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange were simultaneously measured breath-by-breath with minute ventilation at peak exercise as our main endpoint. RESULTS: In the VSD-group the median surgical age was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-2.8 years) and the mean age at time of examination was 21.1 ± 3.1 years in the VSD-group vs. 21.2 ± 2.5 years in the control group. Mean minute ventilation at peak exercise was significantly lower in the VSD-group compared with the controls: 1.4 ± 0.4 L/kg/min vs. 1.8 ± 0.4 L/kg/min, p<0.01. Likewise, mean oxygen uptake was reduced: 38.0 ± 8.2 ml/kg/min in the VSD-cohort vs. 47.9 ± 6.5 ml/kg/min among controls, p<0.01. In terms of breath rate and ventilatory equivalents (O2 and CO2) there were no differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a surgically closed VSD have a markedly abnormal ventilatory response to exercise with significantly reduced minute ventilation despite a similar breath rate. With a follow-up of almost two decades our finding most certainly reflects an unknown but persisting abnormality.
BACKGROUND:Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are normally closed in early childhood, and postsurgical physical capacity is generally considered normal. Despite an increasing understanding of late cardiac morbidity among these patients, long-term pulmonary function remains to be investigated. Therefore, the aim of this prospective follow-up study was to describe ventilatory function during exercise in VSD-repaired adults operated in early life. METHODS: We tested cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in 27 patients and 30 healthy control subjects on an ergometer cycle. Each test was preceded by a standard spirometry, and the exercise test was performed as a maximal incremental test. Pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange were simultaneously measured breath-by-breath with minute ventilation at peak exercise as our main endpoint. RESULTS: In the VSD-group the median surgical age was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-2.8 years) and the mean age at time of examination was 21.1 ± 3.1 years in the VSD-group vs. 21.2 ± 2.5 years in the control group. Mean minute ventilation at peak exercise was significantly lower in the VSD-group compared with the controls: 1.4 ± 0.4 L/kg/min vs. 1.8 ± 0.4 L/kg/min, p<0.01. Likewise, mean oxygen uptake was reduced: 38.0 ± 8.2 ml/kg/min in the VSD-cohort vs. 47.9 ± 6.5 ml/kg/min among controls, p<0.01. In terms of breath rate and ventilatory equivalents (O2 and CO2) there were no differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with a surgically closed VSD have a markedly abnormal ventilatory response to exercise with significantly reduced minute ventilation despite a similar breath rate. With a follow-up of almost two decades our finding most certainly reflects an unknown but persisting abnormality.
Authors: Werner Budts; Jolien Roos-Hesselink; Tanja Rädle-Hurst; Andreas Eicken; Theresa A McDonagh; Ekaterini Lambrinou; Maria G Crespo-Leiro; Fiona Walker; Alexandra A Frogoudaki Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2016-01-18 Impact factor: 29.983