Purpose: We investigated, in patients who underwent lung resection for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), themagnitude of early limitation in functional exercise capacity and the associations with pre- and postoperative factors.Methods: Consecutive patients with preoperative clinical stage I to IIIA NSCLC who underwent lung resection wereprospectively enrolled. We measured functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk distance [6MWD]) and skeletalmuscle strength (handgrip [HF] and quadriceps force [QF]) within 2 days prior to surgery and on day 7 postoperatively.Results: Two hundred eighteen participants were recruited (median age 69 years) of whom 49 developed postoperativecomplications (POCs). 6MWD was markedly decreased (514 m vs 469 m, P .001); HF and QF were slightly decreasedfollowing surgery. Multiple linear regression showed that preoperative vital capacity (P .01), QF (P .05), the durationof chest tube drainage (P .001), and presence of POCs (P .05) were significant predictors. However, intraoperativefactors were not significantly associated with the decline in 6MWD. Conclusions: These results suggest that patientswith preoperative impairments in pulmonary function and muscle strength, and those who require prolonged chest tubedrainage or develop POCs are likely to have impaired exercise capacity. Therefore, individual assessment and follow-up ofpatients with such factors is indicated.
展开▼
