Positive effects of a perioperative training intervention in Ivor Lewis oesophageal surgery : a randomised, controlled multicentre trial
(2026) In BMC Surgery 26(1).- Abstract
Background: The effects of peri-operative training interventions in connection with oesophageal surgery have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this randomised, controlled, single-blind study was to evaluate a peri-operative physical training programme in patients undergoing oesophageal cancer resection surgery due to cancer of the oesophagus or the gastro-oesophageal junction. Methods: One hundred patients scheduled to undergo Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy in one of five university hospitals in Sweden were randomised to a control group or intervention including respiratory muscle training, strength training, and increased physical activity before surgery and up to 3 months postoperatively. Outcome measures were physical capacity,... (More)
Background: The effects of peri-operative training interventions in connection with oesophageal surgery have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this randomised, controlled, single-blind study was to evaluate a peri-operative physical training programme in patients undergoing oesophageal cancer resection surgery due to cancer of the oesophagus or the gastro-oesophageal junction. Methods: One hundred patients scheduled to undergo Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy in one of five university hospitals in Sweden were randomised to a control group or intervention including respiratory muscle training, strength training, and increased physical activity before surgery and up to 3 months postoperatively. Outcome measures were physical capacity, respiratory muscle strength, spirometry, grip strength, and chest mobility. Questionnaires regarding physical activity and function, recovery, and health-related quality of life were completed at inclusion and 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: We did not find significant differences between the groups in physical capacity during follow-up. However, the intervention group performed significantly better than the control group in maximal inspiratory pressure (Δ18%), maximal expiratory pressure (Δ18%), and peak expiratory flow (Δ12%) 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). Patients in the intervention group also developed fewer pulmonary complications (p = 0.019). We did not find differences between the groups in recovery or health-related quality of life. Conclusion: A peri-operative training intervention including respiratory muscle training had a positive impact on respiratory function and pulmonary complications. However, neither strength training nor increased physical activity had any effects. Thus, respiratory muscle training may be offered as a peri-operative regimen in oesophageal cancer surgery. Trial registration: FoU i VGR 238,651 (Released Dec 15, 2017), Clinical Trials NCT03452319 (Released Feb 18, 2018).
(Less)
- author
- Fagevik Olsén, Monika ; Löthgren, Sara ; Trölle, Ulrika ; Elf, Elina ; Toomväli-Petersson, Sophie ; Hermansson, Michael LU ; Hammerlid, Eva and Smedh, Ulrika LU
- publishing date
- 2026-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Oesophageal surgery, Physical activity, Respiratory muscle training
- in
- BMC Surgery
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 34
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41372748
- scopus:105027563835
- ISSN
- 1471-2482
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12893-025-03416-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
- id
- 095a2305-2f83-49a8-a60c-70d395aa40f7
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-09 14:13:08
- date last changed
- 2026-03-10 03:00:08
@article{095a2305-2f83-49a8-a60c-70d395aa40f7,
abstract = {{<p>Background: The effects of peri-operative training interventions in connection with oesophageal surgery have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this randomised, controlled, single-blind study was to evaluate a peri-operative physical training programme in patients undergoing oesophageal cancer resection surgery due to cancer of the oesophagus or the gastro-oesophageal junction. Methods: One hundred patients scheduled to undergo Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy in one of five university hospitals in Sweden were randomised to a control group or intervention including respiratory muscle training, strength training, and increased physical activity before surgery and up to 3 months postoperatively. Outcome measures were physical capacity, respiratory muscle strength, spirometry, grip strength, and chest mobility. Questionnaires regarding physical activity and function, recovery, and health-related quality of life were completed at inclusion and 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: We did not find significant differences between the groups in physical capacity during follow-up. However, the intervention group performed significantly better than the control group in maximal inspiratory pressure (Δ18%), maximal expiratory pressure (Δ18%), and peak expiratory flow (Δ12%) 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). Patients in the intervention group also developed fewer pulmonary complications (p = 0.019). We did not find differences between the groups in recovery or health-related quality of life. Conclusion: A peri-operative training intervention including respiratory muscle training had a positive impact on respiratory function and pulmonary complications. However, neither strength training nor increased physical activity had any effects. Thus, respiratory muscle training may be offered as a peri-operative regimen in oesophageal cancer surgery. Trial registration: FoU i VGR 238,651 (Released Dec 15, 2017), Clinical Trials NCT03452319 (Released Feb 18, 2018).</p>}},
author = {{Fagevik Olsén, Monika and Löthgren, Sara and Trölle, Ulrika and Elf, Elina and Toomväli-Petersson, Sophie and Hermansson, Michael and Hammerlid, Eva and Smedh, Ulrika}},
issn = {{1471-2482}},
keywords = {{Oesophageal surgery; Physical activity; Respiratory muscle training}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Surgery}},
title = {{Positive effects of a perioperative training intervention in Ivor Lewis oesophageal surgery : a randomised, controlled multicentre trial}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12893-025-03416-4}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12893-025-03416-4}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2026}},
}