Ann Rehabil Med.  2015 Jun;39(3):366-373. 10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.366.

Efficacy of Systemic Postoperative Pulmonary Rehabilitation After Lung Resection Surgery

• Kim SK
• Ahn YH
• Yoon JA
• Shin MJ
• Chang JH
• Cho JS
• Lee MK
• Kim MH
• Yun EY
• Jeong JH
• Shin YB

• KMID: 2165639
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.3.366

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of systemic pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) after lung resection in patients with lung cancer.
METHODS
Forty-one patients undergoing lung resection were enrolled and classified into the experimental (n=31) and control groups (n=10). The experimental group underwent post-operative systemic PR which was conducted 30 min/day on every hospitalization day by an expert physical therapist. The control group received the same education about the PR exercises and were encouraged to self-exercise without supervision of the physical therapist. The PR group was taught a self-PR program and feedback was provided regularly until 6 months after surgery. We conducted pulmonary function testing (PFT) and used a visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate pain, and the modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (mBS) to measure perceived respiratory exertion shortly before and 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.
RESULTS
A significant improvement on the VAS was observed in patients who received systemic PR >3 months. Significant improvements in forced vital capacity (FVC) and mBS score were observed in patients who received systemic PR >6 months (p<0.05). Other PFT results were not different compared with those in the control group.
CONCLUSION
Patients who received lung resection suffered a significant decline in functional reserve and increases in pain and subjective dyspnea deteriorating quality of life (QoL). Systemic PR supervised by a therapist helped improve reduced pulmonary FVC and QoL and minimized discomfort during the postoperative periods in patients who underwent lung resection.

Keyword

Pulmonary rehabilitation; Lung resection; Quality of life

MeSH Terms

Dyspnea
Education
Exercise
Hospitalization
Humans
Lung Neoplasms
Lung*
Organization and Administration
Physical Therapists
Postoperative Period
Quality of Life
Rehabilitation*
Respiratory Function Tests
Visual Analog Scale
Vital Capacity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of (A) FVC, (B) FVC_A, (C) FEV1, (D) MIP, and (E) PCF between the pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) group and control group before and 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. FVC, forced vital capacity; FVC_A, age-matched FVC; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; PCF, peak cough flow.

• 

  Fig. 2 Changes in (A) VAS and (B) mBS scores before and 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. VAS, visual analog scale; mBS, modified Borg Dyspnea Scale.

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