Virtual Prehabilitation for Patients Undergoing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Launched by NOVA SCOTIA HEALTH AUTHORITY · Feb 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a program called "virtual prehabilitation" for patients who are scheduled to have surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which is a bulge in a large blood vessel in the belly. The goal of the program is to help patients get stronger and healthier before their surgery by offering support in several areas: exercise, quitting smoking, nutrition, and mental preparation. Participants will engage in a 6-week exercise program and receive guidance through video calls or phone consultations. The researchers hope that this prehabilitation will lead to better health outcomes, improved exercise ability, and a higher quality of life for patients after their surgery.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be over 50 years old and scheduled for elective open AAA repair with a specific size of the aneurysm. However, those with larger aneurysms, certain other medical conditions, or difficulties that prevent them from exercising may not qualify. This study is a pilot project, meaning it’s an early step aimed at showing whether this type of program can be helpful. If successful, it could set a new standard for preparing patients for vascular surgeries across the country.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participants older than 50 years of age awaiting elective open AAA repair with AAA diameter ≤6.9cm at the Halifax Infirmary Hospital between January 2025-December 2025. Participants must have the ability to give individual informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Participants undergoing thoracic, thoracoabdominal and/or perivisceral AAA repair.
• • Participants with ruptured or symptomatic AAA.
• • Participants with AAA maximal diameter ≥7cm.
• • Physical inability to exercise: severe osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal or neurological impairment that precludes exercise.
• • Contraindication to exercise: rest systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥ 100 mmHg, uncontrolled atrial or ventricular arrythmias or proven exercise induced arrhythmias, unstable angina, unstable or acute heart failure, severe symptomatic valvular stenosis, dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction or other comorbidities that imply clinical instability.
• • Inability to have a support person present during exercise therapy.
• • Cognitive impairment that would impede understanding of study procedures or informed consent.