Pulmonary Rehabilitation to Improve Physical Capacity After Pulmonary Embolism

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The newly identified Post Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome (PPS) is characterized by chronic persistent, but unexplained dyspnea (i.e. without signs of pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary abnormality). Symptoms are considerable, but less severe than in CTEPH patients. A recent study performed by our grou...

The newly identified Post Pulmonary Embolism Syndrome (PPS) is characterized by chronic persistent, but unexplained dyspnea (i.e. without signs of pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary abnormality). Symptoms are considerable, but less severe than in CTEPH patients. A recent study performed by our group confirmed that up to 50% of our patients complained of various grades of persistent unexplained dyspnea 1-10 years after the diagnosis of PE. In this multifaceted project we wish to evaluate the effect of an eight week rehabilitation program led and supervised by a trained physiotherapist on exercise capacity in PPS patients. This interventional part of the study will be formed as a randomized controlled trial. Patients will be randomized to either usual care or a physiotherapist-supervised rehabilitation program. The study also aims to explore potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in PPS, using state of the art methods such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and transthoracic echocardiography involving novel methods focusing on the right ventricle. The pathophysiological part of the study will be formed as a case control study, where post PE-patients who do not fulfill the criteria for PPS will serve as controls.

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