The Effect of “Prehabilitation” on Patients Who Underwent Thoracic Eras in Our Clinic

Objectives: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been developed to reduce postoperative complications and shorten hospital stays. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of prehabilitation and the ERAS protocol in patients who underwent thoracic surgery.
Methods: Between May 15, 2022, and February 15, 2023, 80 individuals scheduled for surgery were included in the study. A prehabilitation program was designed for these patients, which consisted of incentive spirometry, endurance exercises, and breathing exercises within the ERAS protocol. After the prehabilitation program, respiratory function tests were repeated, and pre- and post-program values were compared.
Results: The discharge times of patients in the ERAS group were found to be significantly shorter (p<0.001). A statistically significant difference (p<0.001) was also observed in terms of chest drain removal times. Moreover, when the results of respiratory function tests and the 6-minute walking test before and after prehabilitation were compared, a statistically significant improvement was found in all evaluated parameters following prehabilitation (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Prehabilitation is the first step of the ERAS protocol and the least emphasized component in previous studies. Our study highlighted the effect and importance of prehabilitation in thoracic surgery patients undergoing the ERAS protocol.