HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Antonio Bobbio Luca Ampollini Paolo Carbognani Michele Rusca Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bobbio, A. Articles by Olivieri, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bobbio, A. Articles by Olivieri, D. Related Collections Lung - cancer Lung - other

Preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation in patients undergoing lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer

^a Section of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
^b Section of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Clinical Sciences, University Hospital of Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy

Received 21 June 2007; received in revised form 28 September 2007; accepted 3 October 2007.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: U.O. Chirurgia Toracica, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Parma, Viale Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy. Tel.: +39 03406874733; fax: +39 0521 992019. (Email: antonio.bobbio{at}unipr.it; antonboa{at}hotmail.com).

Background: The impact of short-term preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer is evaluated. Methods: A prospective observational study was designed. Inclusion criteria consisted of an indication to lung resection because of a clinical stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer and a chronic obstructive disease on preoperative pulmonary function test. In such conditions, maximal oxygen consumption by a cardio-pulmonary exercise test was evaluated; when this resulted as being 15 ml/kg/min a pulmonary rehabilitation programme lasting 4 weeks was considered. Twelve patients fulfilled inclusion criteria, completed the preoperative rehabilitation programme and underwent a new functional evaluation prior to surgery. The postoperative record of these patients was collected. Results: On completion of pulmonary rehabilitation, the resting pulmonary function test and diffuse lung capacity of patients was unchanged, whereas the exercise performance was found to have significantly improved; the mean increase in maximal oxygen consumption proved to be at 2.8 ml/kg/min (p < 0.01). Eleven patients underwent lobectomy; no postoperative mortality was noted and mean hospital stay was 17 days. Postoperative pulmonary complication was recorded in 8 patients. Conclusions: Short-term preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation could improve the exercise capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are candidates for lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer.

Key Words: Lung cancer surgery • Preoperative care • Surgery • Complications