RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation can be effective in perioperative condition. Our aim was to examine whether the changes of functional markers are significant and search connections between these values and the severity of postoperative complications. METHODS: A total of 238 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients underwent perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation with thoracic surgery. Health status and the following parameters were examined: lung function (FEV1, FVC), chest kinematics [chest wall expansion (CWE)], 6-minute walking test (6MWT), breath holding time (BHT), grip strength (GS) and exercise capacity. Patients were separated into three groups: 72 patients had preoperative rehabilitation only (PRE group), 80 had only postoperative rehabilitation (POS group), and 86 patients underwent pre- and postoperative rehabilitation as well (PPO group). Postoperative complications were classed as "severe" and "not severe". We evaluated the changes in functional parameters. Significance was recognized at P<0.05. Connections in between variables and severity of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Pulmonary rehabilitation resulted significant changes of all examined parameters in all three groups. The direction of changes were favourable, so all of the changes can be considered to be improvement [PRE: CWE: 4.2±2.3 vs. 5.8±2.2 cm; FEV1: 63.2±15.6 vs. 70.1±16.6%pred; 6-minute walking distance (6MWD): 392.9±93.5 vs. 443.2±86.6 m; FVC: 83.1±15.9 vs. 90.9±15.6%pred; POS: CWE: 2.9±1.4 vs. 5.0±2.0 cm; FEV1: 56.4±15.6 vs. 64.6±16.0%pred; 6MWD: 354.7±90.7 vs. 437.0±96.0 m; FVC: 66.2±18.7 vs. 76.1±17.7%pred; PPO: preoperatively: CWE: 4.0±2.1 vs. 5.6±2.6 cm; FEV1: 58.2±15.1 vs. 67.0±14.6%pred; 6MWD: 378.3±90.5 vs. 441.3±86.4 m; FVC: 82.4±16.7 vs. 93.3±16.7%pred; postoperatively: CWE: 2.7±1.5 vs. 4.4±2.2 cm; FEV1: 47.4±13.0 vs. 53.4±14.7%pred; 6MWD: 341.4±115.9 vs. 403.3±98.4 m; FVC: 63.6±16.9 vs. 72.6±18.6%pred; P<0.05]. BHT, GS, dyspnoea and health status were also improved significantly. By discriminant analysis 5 of the variables proved to have discriminative value: kilometers travelled via cycle ergometer at the onset of the preoperative rehabilitation, gender, FEV1 after preoperative rehabilitation, extent of the operation and 6MWD before preoperative rehabilitation. These 5 parameters can predict severe complications correctly in 72.5% of all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce the functional depletion caused by the thoracic surgical operation. Identification of more predictive factors of severe complications can help making preoperative risk stratification more precisely.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Functional condition is crucial for operability of patients with lung cancer and/or chronic respiratory diseases. The aim of the study was to measure changes of functional and quality of life parameters in terms of the effectiveness of perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS: A total of 208 COPD patients (age: 63±9 years, man/woman: 114/94, FEV1: 62±14%pred) participated in a perioperative PR program. The indication was primary lung cancer in 72% of the patients. The 68 patients participated in preoperative (PRE) rehabilitation, 72 in a pre- and postoperative rehabilitation (PPO) and 68 patients only in postoperative rehabilitation (POS). PR program included respiratory training techniques, individualized training and smoking cessation. Lung function tests, 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD) were measured before and after the rehabilitation. Quality of life tests [COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC)] were evaluated as well. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in FEV1 (PRE: 64±16 vs. 67±16%pred; PPO: 60±13 vs. 66±13%pred before the operation, 48±13 vs. 52±13%pred after the operation; POS: 56±16 vs. 61±14%pred, P<0.05) and 6MWD (PRE: 403±87 vs. 452±86 m; PPO: 388±86 vs. 439±83 m before, 337±111 vs. 397±105 m after the operation; POS: 362±89 vs. 434±94 m, P<0 0001). Significant improvement was detected in FVC, grip strength, mMRC and CAT questionnaires as an effectiveness of PR, also. Average intensive care duration was 3.8±5.2 days with vs. 3.1±3.6 without preoperative PR. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life were seen following PR both before and after thoracic surgery.