Prehabilitation in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Are We There Yet?

Several studies in major abdominal surgery have shown that preoperative optimisation of surgical patients through prehabilitation is associated with fewer postoperative complications. However, patient response to preoperative optimisation is unpredictable and there are no studies confirming the real benefit in pancreatic surgery.

The primary aim of this study is to assess the benefits of pre-rehabilitation in pancreatic surgery and to identify the factors associated with effective optimisation.

Study results showed that prehabilitation improved preoperative status of patients who were included in the program. Otherwise, postoperative results are not directly reated to be included in the prehabilitation program, but to the preoperative patient frailty.