[Prehabilitation, Well Prepared for Abdominal Surgery]

Older, frail patients have an increased risk of post-operative complications resulting in loss of function, dependency, reduced quality of life and mortality. Possibly, prehabilitation can improve postoperative outcomes. The aim of this clinical lesson was to present the current evidence for prehabilitation in abdominal surgery with a specific focus on the geriatric population. Prehabilitation seems to be acceptable and feasible for older patients. Especially multidimensional prehabilitation programs seem promising. Moreover, tailor-made exercise programs have been shown to have a positive effect on postoperative complications. However, none of this has yet been conclusively proven. More studies are needed to evaluate the effect of prehabilitation in the frail surgical population.