[Pulmonary rehabilitation after lung resection for tumor - a feasibility study]

To investigate the safety, feasibility and effectiveness of an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program (i-PR) after lung resection (LR) for cancer.

Between January 2007 and December 2009, we conducted a prospective observational study on patients admitted in our institution. An i-PR was offered to all patients. They completed respiratory function tests and a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire at the start and after completing the i-PR.

During the study, 154 out of 175 patients who underwent LR and who were admitted in our center followed an i-PR. The remaining 21 patients were excluded because of emergency re-hospitalisation (10 patients), anticipated departure (six patients) or refusal to participate (five patients). Most functional parameters in the 154 treated patients improved between the beginning and the end of their stay: FVC (69.9% versus 79.6%; P<0.0001); FEV(1) (61.2% versus 69.9%; P<0.0001); timed walk-6MWT (356 m versus 444 m; P<0.0001) and constant work cycle ergometry test (281 s versus 683 s; P<0.0001). Also, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-LC13 improved during the stay, especially global health status (50.5 versus 64.5; P<0.0001).

Postoperative PR is safe and could positively impact on functional status and QoL among this population.