Multimodal prehabilitation in colorectal cancer patients to improve functional capacity and reduce postoperative complications: the first international randomized controlled trial for multimodal prehabilitation

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 98
• Main Authors: van Rooijen, Stefanus, Carli, Francesco, Dalton, Susanne, Thomas, Gwendolyn, Bojesen, Rasmus, Le Guen, Morgan, Barizien, Nicolas, Awasthi, Rashami, Minnella, Enrico, Beijer, Sandra, Martínez-Palli, Graciela, van Lieshout, Rianne, Gögenur, Ismayil, Feo, Carlo, Johansen, Christoffer, Scheede-Bergdahl, Celena, Roumen, Rudi, Schep, Goof, Slooter, Gerrit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 22-01-2019; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis; Cancer patients; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Colonic Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Colonic Neoplasms - surgery; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Colorectal surgery; Combined Modality Therapy - methods; Combined Modality Therapy - statistics & numerical data; Comprehensive complication index; Control; Cost benefit analysis; Digestive System Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Functional capacity; Health care costs; Humans; Medical economics; Medical research; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Mortality; Postoperative complications; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Postoperative Period; Prehabilitation; Preoperative Care - methods; Preoperative Care - statistics & numerical data; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function - physiology; Rehabilitation; Risk factors; Study Protocol; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Comprehensive complication index; Prehabilitation; Colorectal cancer; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Colorectal surgery; Postoperative complications; Functional capacity
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-5232-6

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Surgery is the only curative option. However, postoperative complications occur in up to 50% of patients and are associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates, lower health related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased expenditure in health care. The number and severity of complications are closely related to preoperative functional capacity, nutritional state, psychological state, and smoking behavior. Traditional approaches have targeted the postoperative period for rehabilitation and lifestyle changes. However, recent evidence shows that the preoperative period might be the optimal moment for intervention. This study will determine the impact of multimodal prehabilitation on patients' functional capacity and postoperative complications.
This international multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial will include 714 patients undergoing colorectal surgery for cancer. Patients will be allocated to the intervention group, which will receive 4 weeks of prehabilitation (group 1, prehab), or the control group, which will receive no prehabilitation (group 2, no prehab). Both groups will receive perioperative care in accordance with the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) guidelines. The primary outcomes for measurement will be functional capacity (as assessed using the six-minute walk test (6MWT)) and postoperative status determined with the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). Secondary outcomes will include HRQoL, length of hospital stay (LOS) and a cost-effectiveness analysis.
Multimodal prehabilitation is expected to enhance patients' functional capacity and to reduce postoperative complications. It may therefore result in increased survival and improved HRQoL. This is the first international multicenter study investigating multimodal prehabilitation for patients undergoing colorectal surgery for cancer.
Trial Registry: NTR5947 - date of registration: 1 August 2016.