Prehabilitation Including Physical Activity and Integrated Nutritional-Psychological Care in the Perioperative Management of Esophageal Cancer

Context: The aim of this study is to demonstrate that prehabilitation encompassing nutritional assessment, optimization of nutritional support, structured exercise, and psychological intervention significantly influences patients’ recovery to their preoperative functional status. Moreover, in individuals presenting with poorer baseline condition, prehabilitation may contribute to functional improvement and reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Methods: We conducted a review of the current literature on surgical prehabilitation for esophageal cancer, focusing on studies indexed in PubMed that examine preoperative interventions implemented prior to esophagectomy to improve patients’ preoperative condition and enhance postoperative recovery. Results: Available evidence from the literature indicates a beneficial effect of prehabilitation on postoperative functional capacity and the rate of patients’ return to activities of daily living. At the same time, evidence regarding its impact on short- and long-term clinical outcomes remains limited, which underscores the need for further well-designed studies incorporating a broader range of variables. Conclusions: The findings suggest that multimodal preoperative interventions, including physical activity, nutritional support, and anxiety reduction strategies, may serve as a valuable adjunct to enhanced recovery after surgery programs and facilitate a faster return of patients to basic activities of daily living.