The CardioFit Trial: Exercise Training Before Aortic Valve Surgery

The CardioFit Trial: The feasibility, safety and tolerability of an exercise training programme in patients with severe aortic stenosis prior to aortic valve replacement surgery: A feasibility trial To investigate if a Structured Responsive Exercise Training Programme (SRETP) delivered before aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis is feasible, safe, and tolerable. Fitter patients have better surgical outcomes. Exercising post AVR surgery has been well documented and supported through cardiac rehabilitation programmes. However, there is limited evidence investigating exercising patients preoperatively, in part related to safety considerations in patients with severe aortic stenosis. If undertaking a SRETP before AVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis is shown to be feasible and safe, it provides a prehabilitation opportunity to enhance physical fitness with the aim of improving surgical outcomes. Therefore, this trial will investigate whether SRETP (Prehabilitation) delivered before AVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis is safe \& feasible.