Physical training with minimal hospital supervision of patients after coronary artery bypass surgery.

The effect of a program of rehabilitative training involving minimal hospital supervision was investigated in a group of 30 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABPS). Fifteen of these undertook the training program while the remainder, who undertook a self-regulated program of activity, served as controls. It was found that the surgery per se had significantly improved both the effort tolerance and the highest rate pressure products generated. In the 15 surgical patients who trained we observed a further improvement in work capacity and in the highest rate pressure products achieved. These findings suggest that the effects of training and coronary revascularization are additive and that an effective training program can be instituted with minimal hospital supervision in selected patients who have undergone CABPS.