Muscle Wasting After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Impact On Post-Operative Clinical Status And Effect Of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation

Background:Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is known to induce significant muscle wasting. It remains to be investigated whether muscle wasting after CABG surgery relates to a worse clinical status at entry of rehabilitation and exercise-based rehabilitation remediates such muscle wasting. Design:Prospective observational study. Methods:In 21 males, changes in lean tissue mass (LTM) after CABG surgery were assessed and during a 12-week endurance exercise-based rehabilitation intervention. Changes in blood parameters and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity were assessed, and relations with changes in LTM were analysed. Results:LTM decreased by -1.9 +/- 2.5 kg (p < .05) within 3 weeks after CABG surgery: greater LTM loss related to a lower ventilatory threshold at entry of rehabilitation (r = 0.58-0.61,p < .05). LTM was fully restored (+2.1 +/- 2.4 kg,p < .05) during rehabilitation. Conclusion:In males, CABG-induced LTM reduction was associated with a worse aerobic exercise tolerance at entry of rehabilitation, but this LTM reduction was fully remediated by endurance exercise-based rehabilitation.