Improved Cardiorespiratory Fitness with Rehabilitation After UGI Cancer Surgery

A randomized trial shows that a 12-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program significantly enhances cardiorespiratory fitness in survivors of upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery compared to standard care.

  • Patients in the rehabilitation group saw a mean increase in VO₂peak of 1.5 ml/min/kg at post-intervention and 1.23 ml/min/kg at follow-up.
  • No significant differences were observed in other secondary outcomes like muscle strength or quality of life.

This evidence supports integrating targeted rehabilitation to enhance recovery in this patient population.

Journal Article by O’Neill LM, Smyth E (…) Guinan EM et 19 al. in Ann Surg

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