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Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Unit
The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Unit was created to help people with chronic cardiorespiratory diseases and patients suffering from post-Covid syndrome. This new unit is well-equipped with technical facilities and new technologies, as well as a dedicated multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing comprehensive care to the patient.
The individualized and comprehensive services allow:
• Treatment optimization
• Reduction in shortness of breath
• Increase in patient’s capacity to perform daily activities
• Decrease in the number and severity of exacerbations
• Improvement of the quality of life
• Improvement and stabilization of the respiratory disease
Respiratory rehabilitation is provided essentially in an "outpatient" setting, for 10 to 20 half-days, 3 times a week on average. It can also be applied for some hospitalized patients. Three main phases are included:
Phase 1: Consultation and patient assessment
All patients benefit initially from a consultation with the pulmonologist who verifies the relevance or adequacy of the program, the absence of contraindications and makes an initial assessment. Based on the latter, an individualized program adapted to each patient, no matter the primary pathology he is suffering from and its severity, will be put in place.
- Physical examination
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs)
- 6-minute walk test
- Echocardiography
- Cardiopulmonary stress test
- Nutritional assessment
- Targeted questionnaires to assess dyspnea and the impact on mental health and on the quality of life
Following this assessment, the pulmonologist prescribes a rehabilitation protocol, indicates his prescriptions on the patient’s file and briefs the Unit’s multidisciplinary team.
Phase 2: Rehabilitation sessions
During the sessions, the patient will receive the following healthcare services:
- Respiratory physiotherapy
- Adapted physical activity in a fun context
- Retraining to effort through personalized endurance exercises
- Nutritional rehabilitation: dietary survey, lipid profile, body composition and weight control
- Sleep study, if necessary
- Therapeutic education in which each member of the team participates
- Consultation with the tobaccologist if the patient is a smoker.
- Individual sessions with the nutritionist and/or psychologist, if the patient needs or requests it.
Monitoring oxygen saturation during exercise, blood pressure and heart rate (if necessary), allows carrying out this program under oxygen, or even non-invasive ventilation if necessary.
Phase 3: Closure and follow-up
At the end of this program, an evaluation will be carried out.
A consultation with the pulmonologist concludes the program and the latter validates the patient's acquirements. The patient will then be able to leave with recommendations regarding the continuation of his treatment and with the appropriate documents.
