Pre-operative exercise substantially helps with recovery, study confirms (56% reduction in complications & three fewer days in the hospital, on average)

Medical Xpress / University of Otago / JAMA Network ^ | July 13, 2023 | Kari Clifford et al

[ConservativeMind]

Policy-makers are being urged to take notice of a study that confirms that undertaking a short program of high intensity interval training before surgery can substantially help with recovery.

The study reviewed and analyzed 12 studies including 832 patients who had undertaken preoperative high-intensity interval training. Such training involves repeated aerobic high-intensity intervals at about 80% of the maximum heart rate followed by active recovery.

Dr. Kari Clifford says the study included all types of major surgeries—those expected to last more than two hours or with an anticipated blood loss of greater than 500ml—and included liver, lung, colorectal, urologic and mixed major abdominal surgeries. The average age of participants in the intervention group was 66 and 67 in the control group.

"We have found that high intensity interval training (HIIT) is safe and effective for surgical patients. A HIIT program can meaningfully improve a patient's fitness within four to six weeks, and this reduces postoperative complications and length of stay."

The most significant result was the change in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)—a measure of how well the body takes in oxygen and delivers it to the muscles and organs during prolonged periods of exercise.

Generally, post operative complications occur in about 30% of patients, or up to 50% for frail patients. In the study, those who undertook high intensity interval training prior to surgery, showed a consistent reduction in post-surgery complications, such as cardiac complications, pneumonia, and postoperative bowel issues, she says.

"Our study's pooled results showed that HIIT reduces the risk of having a complication by 56%, which is substantial; and on average they stayed for three fewer days in hospital."

"All of these findings suggest that a period—even as brief as four weeks—of pre-surgery high intensity interval training may substantially improve patient outcomes," she says.

[ConservativeMind]

This exercise is high intensity, but brief. Also, it is high intensity for you, not for someone who is 18 years old.

56% fewer complications and three fewer days in the hospital? This is a great option for any elective surgery.

[ConservativeMind]

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[telescope115]

I could’ve been a part of this study, but I wasn’t. Before my transplant surgery I was aware of the need to be in fairly good physical shape, and that my recovery would be easier. So, I didn’t do any “high impact” exercising, but I did go for brisk walks every couple days, covering 3 to 5 miles.

I was 66 when I got the call one Sunday morning, “we have a liver for you”.
The surgery was that afternoon. The Tuesday after that, I was told that everything was going so well that I might be discharged the following Friday.
And I was.

I was sore, for sure, and needed recuperation and physical therapy, but 5 days after surgery I was discharged And still doing great with my new (to me) liver.
That was a little over two years ago.

I do believe the exercise helped in my recuperation.