Scuba diving after a heart transplant: excessive daring or calculable risk?

Over the past 50 years, outcomes after heart transplantation (HTX) have continuously and significantly improved. In the meantime, many heart transplant recipients live almost normal lives with only a few limitations. In some cases, even activities that actually seemed unreasonable for these patients turn out to be feasible. This article describes the encouraging example of a patient returning to recreational scuba diving after HTX. So far, there were no scientific experiences documented in this area. We worked out the special hemodynamic features and the corresponding risks of this sport for heart transplant recipients in an interdisciplinary manner and evaluated them using the patient as an example. The results show that today, with the appropriate physical condition and compliance with safety measures, a wide range of activities, including scuba diving, are possible again after HTX. They illustrate again the significant development and the enormous potential of this therapy option, which is unfortunately only available to a limited extent.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Example for shared decision-making process for tricky questions: First scientific publication about heart transplantation (HTX)-recipient restarting scuba diving. As exercise physiology after HTX combined with specific diving medicine aspects is challenging, we formed a multidisciplinary team to identify, evaluate, and mitigate the risks involved. The results show that today, with the appropriate physical condition and compliance with safety measures, a wide range of activities are possible again after HTX.

Acute Effect of Electromyostimulation Superimposed on Running on Maximal Velocity, Metabolism, and Perceived Exertion.

Electromyostimulation has been shown to intensify exercise when superimposed on cycling. However, little is known about the application during running, which might help to prevent injuries linked to high running volumes, as intensification of running allows for a reduction in training volume. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the effects of electromyostimulation superimposed on running. Men who were no younger than 18 and no older than 35 were eligible for inclusion in the study. Exclusion criteria were previous experience with electromyostimulation training, the presence of a contraindication according to the manufacturer, or a contraindication to physical activity. A sample of 22 healthy males with an ordinary performance capability accomplished three similar cardiopulmonary treadmill tests until exhaustion in a crossover study design that included lactate measurements and interrogations of perceived exertion. The first test was conducted without electromyostimulation and was followed in a randomized order by the second and the third test condition with 30 or 85 Hz stimulation, respectively, of the lower body. Superimposed electromyostimulation significantly reduced the maximal achieved velocity (control 15.6 ± 1.1 vs. 30 Hz 15.1 ± 1.2, p = 0.002; vs. 85 Hz 14.9 ± 1.1 km/h, p < 0.001), increased the perceived exertion at 10, 12 and 14 km/h (85 Hz + 0.7, p = 0.036; +0.9, p = 0.007; +1.3, p < 0.001; 30 Hz + 0.7, p = 0.025; +1.0, p = 0.002; +1.2, p < 0.001), and induced a significantly higher oxygen uptake at 8 km/h (85 Hz + 1.1, p = 0.006; 30 Hz + 0.9 mL·min−1·kg−1, p = 0.042), 10 km/h (30 Hz + 0.9 mL·min−1·kg−1, p = 0.032), and 14 km/h (85 Hz + 1.0 mL·min−1·kg−1, p = 0.011). Both electromyostimulation conditions significantly limited the maximal lactate level (30 Hz p = 0.046; 85 Hz p < 0.001) and 85 Hz also the recovery lactate level (p < 0.001). Superimposed electromyostimulation is feasible and intensifies running. Coaches and athletes could benefit from the increased training stimulus by reducing running velocity or volume, by combining endurance and strength training, and also by inducing better adaptations while maintaining the same velocity or volume. Therefore, electromyostimulation superimposed on running could be an interesting training tool for runners.

Prevalence of pain in adult patients with moderate to severe haemophilia: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with haemophilia (PwH) often suffer from joint pain due to repetitive haemarthroses and resulting arthropathy. Literature focuses so far on pain causes, diagnosis or treatment. A summary of prevalence rates, providing facts on the absolute occurrence of pain, is not sufficiently described so far. This review aimed to explore and systematically review different pain conditions, focussing on prevalence rates of pain in adult PwH. METHODS: A review of English articles using PubMed and Web of Science was conducted in February 2020. The search strategy included patients with haemophilia A or B suffering from pain. The articles were selected based on defined PICOS-selection criteria. RESULTS: Out of 606 identified articles, 13 studies matched the given eligibility criteria and indicated pain prevalence rates. The weighted mean (WM) for the prevalence rate (varying timeframes) for chronic pain was 40% whereas for point prevalence the rate was WM=75%. Regarding pain intensity, findings of the EQ-5D-3L revealed moderate pain to be more present (61.0%) compared to extreme (11.6%). The main problem was the inconsistency of the definition of both acute and chronic pain as well as for prevalence types. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is a major problem in patients with haemophilia. Pain therapy should be carried out taking into account the difference between bleeding-related or arthropathy-related causes of pain. In addition, the intensity and duration of pain should be recorded consistently to better monitor therapy and allow comparison with existing data.

Sport and Venous Thromboembolism­Site, Accompanying Features, Symptoms, and Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of venous thromboembolisms (VTE) in association with sporting activity has been described but not yet systematically explored. The aim of this study was to determine the sites at which VTE occur in athletes, the accompanying features, and the special features of the symptoms and diagnosis, so that physicians can take the findings into consideration. METHODS: A search of the literature in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane in accordance with the PRISMA criteria, together with a search of Google Scholar up to 29 February 2020. RESULTS: No observational studies were identified. A total of 154 case descriptions were evaluated: 89 on upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 53 on lower-extremity DVT, and 12 on pulmonary embolisms with no evidence of thrombosis. Ninety-five percent of the upper-extremity DVT involved the region of the subclavian/axillary vein. Thoracic outlet syndrome (38%), hereditary thrombophilia/a family history of VTE (16%), intensive training (12%), and the use of oral contraceptives (7%) were identified as accompanying features. The upper-extremity DVT occurred mainly in male strength athletes and ball sports players. The lower-extremity DVT were located in the lower leg/knee (30%), the thigh (19 %), or occurred in combination in the lower leg-to-pelvis region (30 %). The features accompanying lower-extremity DVT were hereditary thrombophilia/a family history of VTE (30%), trauma (25%), immobilization (21%), and the use of oral contraceptives (11%). The lower-extremity DVT were found in endurance sports and ball sports. The symptoms may be obscured by sport-specific symptoms/trauma, and diagnosis is often delayed. Early D-dimer determination is useful and is complemented by diagnostic imaging. CONCLUSION: VTE are found in association with sports. The background factors, the sites of VTE, the types of sports involved, and the accompanying features are all important to know. The symptoms may be obscured, and it may be difficult to reach the correct diagnosis. The possible presence of DVT must be borne in mind.