Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the impact of early intensive rehabilitation care on adults undergoing valve surgery. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study in 96 cardiac valvular surgery patients recruited from Fuwai Hospital. Participants awaiting valve surgery were divided into the experiment group and the control group. The control group received routine rehabilitation care after operation and patients of the experimental group were given earlier intensive exercises and education intervention initiated just the time of admission in addition to the above mentioned routine care. The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Status Survey (SF-36) were used at the admission and discharge of patients to analyze differences between their exercise performance, respiratory function and health-related quality of life. Results: At discharge, outcomes regarding to the 6MWT distance, Borg scores and MIP of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05); analysis of the five items of SF-36 including bodily pain, physical functioning, general health, vitality and mental health shown significant differences between the two groups, namely those indicators were significantly improved in the experimental group as compared with the control group. Discomfort were observed in both groups when patients were having the 6MWT and no significant differences were captured in terms of role-physical, social functioning and role-emotional of SF-36 (P>0.05). Conclusion: The early intensive rehabilitation care may propose positive influences on life quality of patients undergoing non-urgent valvular surgery, particularly on the aspect of walking ability and respiratory function.

Key words: heart valves; cardiac surgical procedures; rehabilitation nursing; 6-Minute Walk Test