Integrating Cardiac Rehabilitation with Neurorehabilitation in a Patient with Ischemic Stroke after Cardiac Surgery: a Case Report

• Published in: Brain & NeuroRehabilitation Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Jung, Chul, Ye, Dong Hyun, Lee, Seung Hak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society for Neurorehabilitation 01.03.2021; 대한뇌신경재활학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 재활의학
• ISSN: 1976-8753; 2383-9910
• DOI: 10.12786/bn.2021.14.e2

Stroke and cardiac disorders are difficult to approach separately. Stroke survivors commonly have cardiovascular comorbidities and vice versa. These patients often need both neurorehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation; therefore, this is an important issue in the rehabilitation process. However, no consensus has been reached on the integration of cardiac rehabilitation and neurorehabilitation. We report the case of a 52-year-old male patient who had ischemic stroke after mitral valvuloplasty. The patient underwent 3 weeks of inpatient neurorehabilitation, and then transited to 6 weeks of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation and occupational therapy. After 9 weeks of well-integrated rehabilitation, the patient experienced neurologic recovery and improvement in his cardiopulmonary fitness. Like this case, successful integrated rehabilitation will contribute to enhancing patients' functional recovery. • We report a case of ischemic stroke after cardiac surgery. • There is no consensus on integration of cardiac rehabilitation with neurorehabilitation. • Successful integrated rehabilitation contributes to enhancing patients' functional recovery.