Does Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgical Treatment Alter Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Mitral Regurgitation at Seven to Eleven Weeks Post-Operative?

Abstract

In the current study, we examined if exercise tolerance was going to be reduced in atrial fibrillation and mitral valve regurgitation patients post a minimally invasive surgery seven to eleven weeks when compared to pre-operative. Patients that participated in this study were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or mitral valve regurgitation and were previously scheduled for minimally invasive corrective surgery. Subjects were maximally stress tested over two visits, before and after surgery. Oxygen consumption, maximal heart rate, and maximal treadmill time were measured. They also filled out a Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) before and after surgery to determine their activity levels. A paired t-test with significance level set at P [less than or equal to] 0.05 revealed that exercise tolerance and activity levels were not found to be significantly different. Subjects in this study were found to be asymptomatic, had mild-moderate atrial fibrillation or mitral valve regurgitation, were younger than previously studied subjects and were active in their daily activities up until the day of their surgery. The principle findings of this study are: 1) patients did not have reduced exercise tolerance after surgery when compared to pre-operative, 2) when compared to age predicted data, VO[subscript]2MAX was not significantly different before or after surgery, and 3) there was no change in activity levels between pre and post surgery.