Study protocol of a single-arm pre-post study to assess the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of a home-based bimodal prehabilitation program on preoperative aerobic fitness in high-risk patients scheduled for liver or pancreatic resection

ABSTRACT

Background:Controversial evidence currently exists regarding the feasibility and effectiveness to improve preoperative aerobic fitness during home-based prehabilitation in patients scheduled for liver or pancreatic resection, whereas morbidity rates are high following these resections. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the preoperative oxygen uptake (VO2) at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold before and after a four-week home-based preoperative training program with nutritional supplementation in high-riskpatients scheduled for elective liver or pancreatic resection. Secondary aims are to evaluate program feasibility, immune system function, cardiopulmonary exercise test responses, individual progression profiles on training responses, quality of life, andpostoperative course.Methods:In this multicenter study with a pretest-posttest design, patients with a liver or pancreatic tumor scheduled for elective resection will be recruited. To select the high-risk fraction of this surgical population, their VO2at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold should be <11 ml/kg/min for final inclusion. A planned total of 24 high-risk patients will participate in a four-week (three sessions per week) home-based bimodal prehabilitation program. The partly supervised home-based preoperative training program consists of individualized goal setting followed by titration of interval and endurance training on an advanced cycle ergometer, combined with functional task exercises. Additionally, patients will be given protein and vitamin/mineral supplementation.Discussion: Effects of a partly supervised home-based bimodal prehabilitation regimen are unknown in high-risk patients opting for liver or pancreatic resection. Improved preoperative aerobic fitness might translate into improved postoperative outcomes and a reduced demand on care resources.Trial RegistrationThe study is registered in the Netherlands Trial Registry (NL6151) and was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee, Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands (P17-08)