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Preoperative therapeutic programme for elderly patients scheduled for elective abdominal oncological surgery: a
J J Dronkers1, H Lamberts, I M M D Reutelingsperger
1Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy, PO Box 9025, 6710 HN Ede, The Netherlands. DronkersJ@zgv.nl
Objective:
Investigation of the feasibility and preliminary effect of a short-term intensive preoperative exercise programme for elderly patients scheduled for elective abdominal oncological surgery.
Design:
Single-blind randomized controlled pilot study.
Setting:
Ordinary hospital in the Netherlands.
Subjects:
Forty-two elderly patients (>60 years).
Interventions:
Patients were randomly assigned to receive a short-term intensive therapeutic exercise programme to improve muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and functional activities, given in the outpatient department (intervention group; n =22), or home-based exercise advice (control group; n=20).
Main Measures:
Parameters of feasibility, preoperative functional capacity and postoperative course.
Results:
The intensive training programme was feasible, with a high compliance and no adverse events. Respiratory muscle endurance increased in the preoperative period from 259 +/- 273 to 404 +/- 349 J in the intervention group and differed significantly from that in the control group (350 +/- 299 to 305 +/- 323 J; P<0.01). Timed-Up-and-Go, chair rise time, LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire, Physical Work Capacity and Quality of Life (EORTC-C30) did not reveal significant differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications and length of hospital stay between the two groups.
Conclusion:
The intensive therapeutic exercise programme was feasible and improved the respiratory function of patients due to undergo elective abdominal surgery compared with home-based exercise advice.
