Cardiac rehab after aortic dissection – pro
The scientific literature documents that some of the benefits of participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program after myocardial infarction include decreased symptoms of angina pectoris, dyspnea, and fatigue, and improvement in exercise tolerance, blood lipid levels, and psychosocial well-being, as well as a reduction in weight, cigarette smoking and stress. The efficacy of modification of risk factors in reducing the progression of coronary artery disease and future morbidity and mortality has been established. Meta-analysis of data from random controlled studies indicates a 20% to 25% reduction in mortality in patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction as compared to controls.
There is less literature on rehab after dissection and since it is much rarer, less literature is expected but there is registry data that supports its use.
Corone S, Iliou MC, Pierre B, Feige JM, Odjinkem D, Farrokhi T, Bechraoui F, Hardy S, Meurin P; Cardiac Rehabilitation working Group of the French Society of CardiologyFrench registry of cases of type I acute aortic dissection admitted to a cardiac rehabilitation center after surgery.Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2009 Feb;16(1):91-5.
Christoph A. Nienaber, and Kim A. Eagle
Aortic Dissection: New Frontiers in Diagnosis and Management: Part II: Therapeutic Management and Follow-Up
Circulation 108: 772-778, 2003