A Study of the Effect of Breathing Exercises and Daily Step Count Before Surgery on Pulmonary Complications Following Upper Abdominal Cancer Surgery

Surgery in the upper abdomen, particularly to remove tumors, is a major procedure associated with an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, such as pneumonia. Good physical preparation—particularly targeted breathing exercises and regular physical activity both before and after surgery—could help reduce these risks.

The goal of the PREVIST study is to investigate whether breathing exercises started before surgery, compared to those started only after surgery, can reduce the rate of pulmonary complications following upper abdominal cancer surgery. The study will also examine whether a higher daily step count before surgery likewise reduces the risk of complications. This is a randomized, interventional study. This means that patients are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. In one group, breathing exercises begin before surgery; in the other, they begin only afterward. The rate of pulmonary complications will then be compared between the two groups. The primary endpoint of the study is the number of pulmonary complications requiring treatment (e.g., with medication or surgery). In addition, the length of stay in the intensive care unit and the need for mechanical ventilation are being examined. Other health data (length of hospital stay, quality of life, and long-term survival) will be collected via questionnaires at 15, 30, and 90 days.

Adult patients aged 18 and older who have a malignant tumor in the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, or bile ducts and who are scheduled to undergo curative surgery are eligible to participate in the study. Patients who require emergency surgery, as well as those with severe pre-existing lung or heart conditions, are excluded from participation. Patients with dementia or under legal guardianship, as well as pregnant women and minors, are also ineligible to participate in the study. Another exclusion criterion is concurrent participation in other studies. Patients with dementia or under legal guardianship, as well as pregnant women and minors, are not eligible to participate in the study. Another exclusion criterion is concurrent participation in other studies.