Editorial
A rehabilitative approach to patients with internal cardioverter-defibrillators
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
In the UK the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently reviewed the value of internal cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and has recommended an increase in their use. The guidance includes the recommendation that centres that implant devices should provide "A rehabilitative approach to aftercare which includes psychological preparation for living with an ICD".1 The first solution that may occur to clinicians is to appoint a liaison nurse, but would this constitute a rehabilitative approach, or be the best solution for patients? We recently initiated a rehabilitation programme for ICD patients and, before doing so, reviewed the literature to answer two questions:
- What benefits could ICD patients hope to gain from rehabilitation?
- Do they have rehabilitation needs that differentiate them from other cardiac patients?
Systematic review and meta-analysis have established that a
cardiac rehabilitation programme can improve survival, functional ability, and quality of
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Lewin, R J, Coulton, S, Frizelle, D J, Kaye, G, Cox, H
(2009). A brief cognitive behavioural preimplantation and rehabilitation programme for patients receiving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator improves physical health and reduces psychological morbidity and unplanned readmissions. Heart
95: 63-69
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Newall, E.G., Lever, N.A., Prasad, S., Hornabrook, C., Larsen, P.D.
(2007). Psychological implications of ICD implantation in a New Zealand population. Europace
9: 20-24
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Fitchet, A, Doherty, P J, Bundy, C, Bell, W, Fitzpatrick, A P, Garratt, C J
(2003). Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients: a randomised controlled trial. Heart
89: 155-160
[Abstract] [Full Text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
