Introduction: Preoperative rehabilitation (prehabilitation) is an essential intervention for optimizing functional and pulmonary capacity, with a positive impact on quality of life, self-care and the prevention of complications. It may include exercise training, health education and respiratory functional re-education in people with lung cancer and should be integrated into Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) programs. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the impact of prehabilitation on functional and respiratory capacity within an ERAS® program for thoracic surgery. A quasi-experimental pre–post intervention study was conducted. Functional and respiratory assessments were performed during the preoperative consultation and at hospital admission, including the six-minute walk test, estimated VO2máx, spirometry (FEV1, FVC and PEF) and incentive spirometry. An individualized prehabilitation plan was defined for each participant. Results: A total of 75 individuals referred for thoracic surgery were included, with a mean age of 66.76 (±11.01) years, predominantly male (62.67%), of whom 13 participated in a supervised program. A clinically meaningful improvement in functional capacity was observed, with a mean increase of 46.16 meters in the six-minute walk test and 1,52 mL·kg−1·min−1 in estimated VO2máx. Respiratory outcomes showed a mean increase of 641.31 mL in inspiratory volume, as well as percentage improvements in FEV1 (4.82%), FVC (4.85%) and PEF (10.54%), with PEF values approaching normal levels (77.81%). Conclusions: These interventions contribute not only to the improvement of preoperative status but also to the potential reduction of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay, reinforcing the need for their integration into ERAS® programs.
Loureiro et al. (2026) studied this question.