Open AccessRationale and clinical benefits of an intensive long-term pulmonary rehabilitation program after oesophagectomy: preliminary report
Author(s) -
Filippo Lococo,
Alfredo Cesario,
Silvia Sterzi,
Giovanni Magrone,
Valentina Dall’Armi,
Francesca Mattei,
Francesco Varone,
Venanzio Porziella,
Stefano Margaritora,
Pierluigi Gra
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
multidisciplinary respiratory medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2049-6958
pISSN - 1828-695X
DOI - 10.4081/mrm.2012.608
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , pulmonary function testing , quality of life (healthcare) , cardiothoracic surgery , pulmonary rehabilitation , intensive care medicine , general surgery , physical therapy , surgery , nursing
Patients who undergo oesophagectomy for oesophagealcancer (OC) usually have an overall poor prognosis and, still more preoccupying, an unsatisfactory quality of life (QoL). Considering that, as already noted, post-operative pulmonary function has a strong correlation with the long-term outcome and QoL after surgery, we have assumed and speculated on the clinical benefits of an intensive long-term pulmonary post-operative rehabilitation program in this particular subset of patients. Herein, we report the preliminary results of a comparative retrospective analysis in a series of 58 patients who underwent radical oesophagectomy and post-operative chest physical therapy (CPT) under two different protocols, from October 2006 to January 2011. Finally, we discuss on the time-trend analysis of pulmonary function and the potential role of post-operative pulmonary rehabilitation.