Alaa Dean Esmail, BS
Medical Student (M2)
Northeast Ohio Medical School
Girard, Ohio, United States
Leslie Rydberg, MD
Assistant Residency Program Director
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Havisha Pedamallu, BS
Medical Student
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Evanston, Illinois, United States
The study aim was to assess the functional benefit of comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation for patients with either continuous Milrinone drip or a LifeVest, while also examining any medical complications that arise during their stay.
Design:
A retrospective cohort study of 20 patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital with either continuous Milrinone drip or a LifeVest between October 2019 and July 2023.
Results:
The study included 13 male and 7 female patients ages 18-90 years (mean[standard deviation {SD}], 61.2 ± 16.5 years. The mean length of stay was 19 ± 7.9 days. Twelve patients (60%) were eventually transferred home following inpatient rehabilitation. Mean (SD) admission and discharge GG scores for Milrinone patients were 3.3 ± 0.5 and 4.9 ± 1.0, respectively. Mean (SD) admission and discharge GG scores for LifeVest patients were 3.1 ± 0.8 and 5.1 ± 0.8, respectively. The mean (SD) admission and discharge Six Minute Walk Test for Milrinone patients was 53.3 ± 46.3 and 114.4 ± 96.1, respectively. The mean (SD) admission and discharge Six Minute Walk Test for LifeVest patients was 115.6 ± 121.8 and 196.3 ± 160.1, respectively. Complications during rehabilitation included musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, constipation, hypertension, and others.
Conclusions: Patients with Milrinone drip or Life Vest demonstrate functional gains in inpatient rehabilitation with minimal cardiac complications. These findings suggest that rehabilitation with either of these two interventions is both safe and feasible.
