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Influence of major pulmonary resection on postoperative daily ambulatory activity of the patients

Thoracic Surgery Service, University Hospital of Salamanca, Spain

*Corresponding author. Thoracic Surgery Service, Paseo de San Vicente 52-84, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. Tel./fax: +34 923 291 383.

E-mail address: nuria.novoa{at}usal.es (N. Novoa).

To describe and compare the daily ambulatory activity of the patients before and one month after major lung resection. Daily activity was measured using a pedometer (OMROM Walking Style PRO^®) given preoperatively in a prospective way to a series of 21 consecutive cases scheduled for lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Analyzed variables were age, pulmonary function, mean number of total and aerobic steps per day, walked distance and mean daily time of aerobic activity. Activity variables were analyzed individually and as a new differential variable DELTA. Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney nonparametric tests were used for comparison between groups. General series data: 19 male. Age: 63±10.9 years. FEV₁%: 88.4±22.7. DLCO: 86.2±21.6. Eleven cases had COPD criteria. Type of surgery: 3 pneumonectomy/18 lobectomy. Activity data: all patients showed a global decrease of their activity one month after surgery but, patients in the pneumonectomy group are unable to keep aerobic activity meanwhile patients that undergone lobectomy showed only a 25% reduction in the measured variables. Major pulmonary resection decreases the time and the quality of the daily ambulatory activity of the patients during the first postoperative month. Despite limitations, the chosen pedometer OMRON Walking Style Pro^® is an efficient tool to evaluate the perioperative daily ambulatory activity of patients.

Key Words: Pedometer; Major lung resection; Daily ambulatory activity; Quality of life