Early rehabilitation after haemorrhagic stroke in a patient with a history of heart transplantation. A case study

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is the most common form of central nervous system condition. An average of about 80 heart transplantations are performed in Poland yearly. A transplanted heart is prone to tachycardia. Early, complex post-stroke rehabilitation requires physical effort from the patient. Case report: We present a clinical case of a patient with left-sided hemiparesis after a haemorrhagic stroke and on immunosuppressive treatment after heart transplantation (2005). Methods: The outcomes of rehabilitation therapy were assessed based on the following scales: the Barthel Index, a modified Rankin Scale, the Rivermead Motor Index, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Mini–Mental State Examination, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Moreover, pre- and post-exercise heart rate monitoring was performed. Results: As a result of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, functional status improvement was observed in all estimated scales. The highest change was reported for Barthel Index (50%) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (30%). Heart rate was between 75 and 180 bpm. Conclusions: A patient with a history of heart transplantation shows good tolerance of physical exercise despite tachycardia. Early post-stroke rehabilitation significantly improves functional status.