Normobaric Hypoxic-hyperoxic Training: a Novel Technique in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Natalia Vasyukova, Tea Kakuchaya, Tamara Dzhitava, Nona Pachuashvili, Angelina Filatova, Arjana Kuular, Aydin Saparbayev

A.N. Bakoulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow, Russia

Date, time and location: 2018.05.27 08:30, Congress Hall, 2F–A

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of normobaric hypoxic-hyperoxic training in cardiac rehabilitation after open heart surgery.

Materials and methods:91 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 47 patients in the studied group undergoing hypoxia–hyperoxia training (the IHHG)); 44 patients in the control group (CTRL). In the IHHG, the interval hypoxic-hyperoxic training (the IHHT) included 15 procedures and lasted 40 minutes each. After the first and the last procedures, we assessed following parameters: heart rate, blood pressure, LV EF, minimum SpO2 (%), duration of hypoxic and hyperoxic phases, VO2 peak (mlO2/min/kg) and duration of load in the beginning and in the end of the training course by modified BRUCE protocol.

Results:In the IHHG, oxygen saturation was significantly improved (82,4±3,5 % vs. 88,3±2,8 %). Duration of the hypoxic phasewas higher after the treatment course in the IHHG (3,21±0,41 min vs. 3,51±1,09 min). Contrarily, duration of the hyperoxic phase was lower after the IHHT (3,35±0,22 min before vs. 2,00±0,37 min after the study). In the IHHG, the exercise duration by BRUCE protocol was significantly improved (383±1412 sec vs 280±92 in CTRL group).VO2 peak index was significantly lower before the course of procedures (14,3±4,2 mlO2/min/kg vs 16,1±4,2 mlO2/min/kg). LV EF improvement was also diagnosed (58±6,2% vs 62,6±5,5%).

Conclusions: The interval normobaric hypoxic-hyperoxic therapy is easily tolerated by patients, and is not accompanied by side effects and complications. Physical training is not required during these procedures in early postoperative period. The use of hypoxic training in the early stages after open-heart surgery can improve both the resistance to hypoxia and the tolerance to physical stress.