Repeated measures correlation between functional capacity, pulmonary function and chest expansion in children...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric surgery
• Pulmonary function testing
• Functional capacity assessment

Background:

• The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), spirometry, and chest expansion are standard for assessing pre- and post-operative functional capacity and pulmonary function.
• Children undergoing open abdominal surgery require careful monitoring of these parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between functional capacity (10-meter walk test [10mWT], Nine Stair Climbing Test [9SCT]), pulmonary function (spirometry), and chest expansion in pediatric patients before and after open abdominal surgery.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial involving 18 children (aged 5-17) undergoing open abdominal surgery.
• Measurements included 6MWT, spirometry (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEFR), 10mWT, 9SCT, and chest expansion, taken preoperatively (Pre-OP), on postoperative day one (POD1), and POD5.

Main Results:

• No significant correlation was found between functional capacity and pulmonary function preoperatively, on POD1, or POD5 (rs < 0.25; p > 0.05).
• The 9SCT showed a moderate to good correlation with pulmonary function preoperatively (rs = 0.742; p < 0.05).
• Chest expansion parameters demonstrated a moderate to good correlation with pulmonary function preoperatively, on POD1, and POD5 (rs = 0.50-0.75; p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Pulmonary function and chest expansion exhibit a moderate correlation in pediatric patients undergoing open abdominal surgery.
• Functional capacity shows a poor correlation with both pulmonary function and chest expansion.
• All assessed outcome measures (6MWT, 10mWT, 9SCT, spirometry, and chest expansion) hold individual clinical significance.