Is preoperative physical activity related to post-surgery recovery? A cohort study of patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to assess the association between preoperative level of activity and recovery after breast cancer surgery measured as hospital stay, length of sick leave and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Patients included were those scheduled to undergo breast cancer surgery, between February and November 2013, at two participating hospitals in the Western Region of Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Patients planned for breast cancer surgery filled out a questionnaire before, as well as at 3 and 6 weeks after the operation. The preoperative level of activity was self-assessed and categorised into four categories by the participants using the 4-level Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Our main outcome was postoperative recovery measured as length of sick leave, in-hospital stay and self-assessed physical and mental recovery. RESULTS: 220 patients were included. Preoperatively, 14% (31/220) of participants assessed themselves to be physically inactive, 61% (135/220) to exert some light physical activity (PA) and 20% (43/220) to be more active (level 3+4). Patients operated with mastectomy versus partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection versus sentinel node biopsy were less likely to have a short hospital stay, relative risk (RR) 0.88 (0.78 to 1.00) and 0.82 (0.70 to 0.96). More active participants (level 3 or 4) had an 85% increased chance of feeling physically recovered at 3 weeks after the operation, RR 1.85 (1.20 to 2.85). No difference was seen after 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The above study shows that a higher preoperative level of PA is associated with a faster physical recovery as reported by the patients 3 weeks post breast cancer surgery. After 6 weeks, most patients felt physically recovered, diminishing the association above. No difference was seen in length of sick leave or self-assessed mental recovery between inactive or more active patients.

The preoperative level of physical activity is associated to the postoperative recovery after elective cholecystectomy - A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing interest in the role of preoperative physical activity for postoperative recovery. The effect of preoperative physical activity and recovery after cholecystectomy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of self-reported leisure-time preoperative physical activity with postoperative recovery and complications after elective cholecystectomy due to gallstone disease. METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study with 200 patients scheduled to undergo elective cholecystectomy. Level of self-assessed leisure-time physical activity was compared with recovery. RESULTS: Regular physical activity was associated with a higher degree of return to work within three weeks post-operatively (relative chance (RC) 1.26, p = 0.040); with a higher chance of leaving hospital within one day post-op (RC 1.23, p = 0.001), as well as with better mental recovery (RC 1.18, p = 0.049), compared to physically inactive. No statistically significant association was seen with return to work within one week or with self-assessed physical recovery. DISCUSSION: In clinical practice, evaluating the patients' level of physical activity is feasible, and may potentially be used to identify patients being more suitable for same-day surgery. Given the study design, the results from this study cannot prove causality. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the preoperative leisure-time physical activity-level, is positively associated with less sick leave, a shorter hospital stay and with better mental recovery, three weeks post-elective cholecystectomy. We recommend assessing the physical activity-level preoperatively for prognostic reasons. If preoperative/postoperative physical training will increase recovery remains to be shown in a randomized controlled study.

Stoma-Const--the technical aspects of stoma construction: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The construction of a colostomy is a common procedure, but the evidence for the different parts of the construction of the colostomy is lacking. Parastomal hernia is a common complication of colostomy formation. The aim of this study is to standardise the colostomy formation and to compare three types of colostomy formation (one including a mesh) regarding the development of parastomal hernia. METHODS/DESIGN: Stoma-Const is a Scandinavian randomised trial comparing three types of colostomy formation. The primary endpoint is parastomal herniation as shown by clinical examination or CT scan within one year. Secondary endpoints are re-admission rate, postoperative complications (classified according to Clavien-Dindo), stoma-related complications (registered in the case record form at stoma care nurse follow-up), total length of hospital stay during 12 months, health-related quality of life and health economic analysis as well as re-operation rate and mortality within 30 days and 12 months of primary surgery. Follow-up is scheduled at 4-6 weeks, and 6 and 12 months. Inclusion is set at 240 patients. DISCUSSION: Parastomal hernia is a common complication after colostomy formation. Several studies have been performed with the aim to reduce the rate of this complication. However, none are fully conclusive and data on quality of life and health economy are lacking. The aim of this study is to develop new standardised techniques for colostomy formation and evaluate this with patient reported outcomes as well as clinical and radiological assessment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01694238.2012-09-24.

Effect of body mass index on groin hernia surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of underweight, overweight, and obesity in relation to clinical characteristics, the risk of postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and reoperations for recurrence after groin hernia surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Groin hernia surgery is one of the most frequent operations performed in general surgery. Several studies have demonstrated a protective effect of overweight and obesity on the risk of developing primary groin hernia. However, obesity has also been suggested to increase the risk for recurrence of groin hernia. METHODS: Through the Swedish Hernia Register, 49,094 primary groin hernia operations were identified between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007. Patients were divided into 4 body mass index (BMI) groups: BMI 1, <20 kg/m2; BMI 2, 20 to 25 kg/m2; BMI 3, 25-30 kg/m2; and BMI 4, >30 kg/m2. RESULTS: Of the 49,094 patients, 3.5% had a BMI <20 kg/m2 and 5.2% were obese. Altogether, women constituted only 7.7% of the studied group, but among patients with BMI <20 kg/m2 that had surgical procedures for femoral hernia, 81.4% were women. The relation between BMI and postoperative complications was U-shaped and after adjustment for age, gender, and emergency procedure, patients with BMI <20 and >25 had a significant increased risk when compared with patients with BMI from 20 to 25. Reoperation for recurrence of groin hernia has an increased hazard ratio of 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.40) in overweight, which was particularly evident after open suture and preperitoneal mesh techniques. CONCLUSIONS: In this large and unselected population of patients with a first surgical procedure for groin hernia a relative dominance of female and femoral hernias presented as an emergency condition was observed in the low BMI group. The prevalence of obesity was markedly low. Both lean and obese patients had an increased risk for postoperative complications.

Body mass index and groin hernia: a 34-year follow-up study in Swedish men.

OBJECTIVE: Inguinal hernias are very common disorders, especially in men, with inguinal herniorrhaphy being one of the most frequently performed general surgical procedures in men. Theoretically, obesity might increase the risk of groin hernia by increasing intra-abdominal pressure. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether overweight and obesity in middle age could significantly predict future groin hernia in men. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study; SETTING: General population of men living in Gothenburg, Sweden; PARTICIPANTS: A community-based sample of 7483 men aged 47 to 55 years were followed-up from baseline (1970-1973) for a maximum of 34 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A diagnosis of groin hernia according to the Swedish hospital discharge register. RESULTS: A total of 1017 men (13.6%) were diagnosed with groin hernia. An inverse relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and risk of groin hernia. With each BMI unit (3-4 kg), the relative risk for groin hernia decreased by 4% (P < 0.0001). Compared with men of normal weight, obese men had a 43% lower risk (P = 0.0008, 95% confidence interval 21%-59%). Heavy smokers demonstrated a 26% lower risk for groin hernia (P = 0.003, 95% confidence interval 10%-39%). Diabetes, high physical activity, and blood pressure were not associated with groin hernia. Entering other variables potentially associated with groin hernia, as age, BMI, smoking, and serum cholesterol, in a multivariable analysis left the risk estimates for BMI and smoking virtually unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: In a large community-based sample of middle-aged men overweight and obesity were associated with a lower risk for groin hernia during an extended follow-up. Obesity, in comparison with normal weight, reduced the risk of groin hernia by 43%. A reduced risk of groin hernia was also noted in heavy smokers. Obviously, hernia may be more easily detected in lean men but a true protective effect cannot be excluded.

Body mass index and diverticular disease: a 28-year follow-up study in men.

PURPOSE: Diverticular disease increased steadily concomitant with elevated rates of overweight and obesity during the 20th century. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether overweight and obesity in midlife predict future diverticular disease in men. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of a general population of men living in Göteborg, Sweden. A community-based sample of 7,494 men, investigated when aged 47 to 55 years, were followed from baseline in 1970 to 1973 for a maximum of 28 years. Hospitalization with a discharge diagnosis of diverticular disease according to the Swedish hospital discharge register was measured. RESULTS: Totally, 112 men (1.5 percent) were hospitalized with diverticular disease. A relationship between body mass index and diverticular disease was demonstrated; men with a body mass index between 20 and 22.5 kg/m2 had the lowest risk. After adjustment for covariates, the risk increased linearly in men who had a body mass index of 22.5 to 25 (multiple-adjusted hazard ratio, 2.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.9-6; 25-27.5 (hazard ratio, 3 (1.2-7.6)), 27.5-30 (hazard ratio 3.2, (1.2-8.6)), and 30 or greater (hazard ratio 4.4, (1.6-12.3)) kg/m2 (P for linear trend = 0.004). Men with a body mass index of < or =20 kg/m2 had a nonsignificantly elevated risk (hazard ratio, 3 (0.7-12.5)). Smoking (hazard ratio, 1.6 (1.1-2.3) and diastolic blood pressure (hazard ratio, 1.02 (1.01-1.04) per mmHg) also were independently related to risk of diverticular disease. CONCLUSIONS: In a large community-based sample of middle-aged men, overweight and obesity were strongly linked to future severe diverticular disease leading to hospitalization.