Pilot study of viability in the use of cycle ergometer for upper limbs in the immediate postoperative period of cardiac surgery

The use of a cycle ergometer for the upper limbs may contribute to maintain the functional capacity in patients after heart surgery (HS). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cardiorespiratory responses of HS patients receiving or not vasoactive drugs (VADs) during the realizations of cycle ergometer for upper limbs, verifying the incidence of loss of radial arterial catheter or of steel wire fractures in the sternum. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pilot study  involving 26 patients divided in 2 groups. Group CO: no use of VADs (13 patients, age: 57±12 years, 09 male) and VAD group: (13 patients, age: 61±10 years, 07 male), submitted to HS, which on the first postoperative day (1stPO) performed the cycle ergometer for upper limbs. The parameters evaluated during the exercise were heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), dyspnea, fatigue of upper limbs and mean arterial pressure (MAP). The incidence of losses of the radial artery catheter and of steel wire fractures in the sternum was calculated. Statistical analysis adopted one-way or two-way analysis of variance, with post hoc from Newman Kauls or Scheffé, when necessary. The significance level was 0.05%. RESULTS: HR increased in both groups at the end of the exercise (p=0.00), with no difference between them (p=0.97); SpO2, dyspnea and MAP did not change from rest to the end of exercise (p=0.49; p=0.78 and p=0.25, respectively); The fatigue in the upper limbs increased in both groups (p=0.04), without difference between groups (p=0.79); There was no event of loss of radial artery catheter or steel wire fractures in the sternum. CONCLUSION: The adoption of the cycle ergometer for upper limbs was safe in the 1stPO of HS, even in the individuals using VADs. There was no relationship between the use of the upper limbs cycle ergometer and losses of arterial catheters or steel wire fractures in the sternum.