Quality of life and functionality after renal transplant: a physiotherapy protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with respiratory, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, that can be recovered with a successful renal transplant. Early Hospital physiotherapy protocols can be used to optimize these results. Objectives: To evaluate and compare the impact of a hospital physiotherapeutic protocol, quality of life (QOL), respiratory muscle strength (RMS), peak flow and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), in patients with CKD pre and after renal transplant. Methods: 39 patients hospitalized for renal transplant in a University Hospital were included in the protocol. Physiotherapy protocol included measurement of Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure; expiratory Peak flow; and functional capacity for the 6MWT, pre transplant and in post operatory days 1 and 5. A subset of 12 patients also answered the QOL SF 36 questionaire. Results: A significant improvement in RMS, peak flow and distance walked on the 6MWT was observed in the early postoperative period. On the fifth postoperative day, there was an improvement in RMS and peak flow, however the 6MWT persisted below to predicted. The QOL analysis showed an improvement in six domains after transplantation. Conclusion: In this series, the early physiotherapeutic protocol provided improvement of QOL, RMS and expiratory peak flow in CKD patients after renal transplant.