In the 1967-1986 in the Czechoslovak State spa Sliac 961 (48.15%) men and 1035 (51.85%) women after surgical operations on the heart were followed up during the second rehabilitation stage. The operations were made because of the following indications: acquired rheumatic valvular defects 1208 (60.52%), congenital heart disease 461 (23.10%), ischaemic heart disease 260 (13.03%), myxomas and thrombi of the left atrium 31 (1.55%), pericardiectomy was performed in 36 (1.80%). As to surgical operations, commissurotomy and commissurolysis were performed in 724 (36.27%) an artificial prosthesis was implanted in 330 (16.53%), homotransplants in 151 (7.57%) autotransplants in 3 (0.15%), aortocoronary by-pass/revascularization in 260 (13.03), surgical operations on account of congenital heart disease, thrombi and myxomas of the left atrium were performed in 492 (24.65%) of the patients. Rehabilitation care comprised in addition to remedial exercise a therapeutic regime, clinical and laboratory examinations, dietotherapy, medicamentous and physical therapy and carbon dioxide baths. After rehabilitation care objective improvement was recorded in 850 (42.59%), subjective improvement in 953 (47.74%) no change in 143 (7.16%), deterioration in 47 (2.35%), and three patients (0.15%) died.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Cardiac Surgical Procedures /rehabilitation/; Exercise Therapy; Female; Heart /physiopathology/; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vital Capacity