[Early physical conditioning of patients surgically treated for myocardial revascularization. Influence on the functional capacity]. / Condicionamento físico precoce de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio. Influência sobre a capacidade funcional.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the early physical conditioning (PC) effect [initiated 15 days after the myocardial revascularization surgery (MRS)] in the functional capacity. METHODS: Twenty-two male patients (mean-age of 52y-o), divided in two groups (A and B, 11 patients each), were studied. Group A started PC 3 months after MRS (phase III), with a training intensity of about 70% of the maximum heart rate reserve, during three months, three sessions per week with one hour duration. Group B started PC 15 days after the MRS (fase II), with a training intensity up to five metabolic unities, three times a week, 1 hour and 15 duration. The post-MRS period of three months was designated as the time I (beginning of fase III) and six months as time 2. Stress test, Kraus-Weber flexibility test, coxo-femural flexibility test (flexion, elevation and abduction) and scapule-umeral flexibility test (flexion, extension and abduction) were applied. RESULTS: The maximum oxygen uptake and the total work increased significantly from time 1 to time 2 in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups, either in time 1 or 2. Flexibility in the Kraus-Weber test and in the scapule-umeral flexibility test when in flexion, were significantly greater in group B than A, in both times (1 and 2). Other flexibility variables studied show no significant difference, neither between the studied groups nor in the times 1 and 2 of evaluation. CONCLUSION: Early PC after MRS increased the value of two variables that measure flexibility. However, it has not increased other flexibilities variables and the aerobic capacity.

[Ergospirometry as a method for predicting the clinical course of ischemic, Chagas and idiopathic myocardiopathy]. / Ergoespirometria como método de predição do comportamento evolutivo da miocardiopatia isquêmica, chagásica e idiopática.

PURPOSE: To compare and evaluate the modifications variables obtained through spyroergometry in groups of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IS), Chagas' disease (CH), and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (ID). To study tolerance to anaerobic conditions of patients from the above groups who died. METHODS: A study was carried with 50 male patients, 10 of which were found in normal conditions whereas 40 presented cardiomyopathy with compensated heart failure. We observed that from the 40 patients from the cardiomyopathy groups, nine died, subgroups OB--during the study period of 1.005 days. These were compared to subgroups NOB--the remaining 31 patients. These patients were evaluated under 4 conditions--Rest (Rep), anaerobic threshold (LA), power peak of the exercise (P) and in the fourth minute recovery (REC). The investigation was based on data collected by means of spyroergometry: oxygen consumption (MET), production of CO2-(VCO2), respiratory equivalent of oxygen (VE/VO2), oxygen pulse (VO2/FC) and the time elapsed between LA and P. RESULTS: There were significant differences when the three pathological groups (IS, CH, ID) were compared with the control groups (N). There were no significant differences when the three pathological groups compared among themselves. In relation to tolerance to anaerobic conditions significant differences were found among the patients of subgroup OB--1.33 min--who died when compared to subgroup NOB--3.26 min (time elapsed between LA and P). CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that the variables studied, obtained through spyroergometry may indicate important data towards the prognosis with heart failure.