The first experience of electrical myostimulation for early rehabilitation of the heart transplant recipient with complicated postoperative period

The prognosis of a patient suffering from severe chronic heart failure is determined by the impairment of cardiac and skeletal muscles. More evidence has recently emerged on the use of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) as a method of rehabilitation in patients admitted to the intensive care units. Nevertheless, evidences on the use of this type of rehabilitation in patients after heart transplantation are still limited. This article presents the first experience of using EMS in the patient who underwent heart transplantation. Sessions of electric muscle stimulation of the quadriceps allowed maintaining muscle mass according to the ultrasound findings, as well as muscle strength and endurance. The EMC was safe, had no proarrhythmogenic effect and did not affect the pacing of the temporary pacemaker. Further data accumulation, systematization and analysis on the use of EMC in this group of patients is required.