Short term high-intensity interval training in patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery increases aerobic fitness

Anna Michel; Vincent Gremeaux; Guillaume Muff; Basile Pache; Sandrine Geinoz; Ana Larcinese; Charles Benaim; Bengt Kayser; Nicolas Demartines; Martin Hübner; David Martin; Cyril Besson

doi:10.1186/s13102-022-00454-w

Short term high-intensity interval training in patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery increases aerobic fitness

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Apr 7;14(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00454-w.

Authors

Anna Michel¹, Vincent Gremeaux^{2

3}, Guillaume Muff⁴, Basile Pache⁵, Sandrine Geinoz⁵, Ana Larcinese⁶, Charles Benaim⁴, Bengt Kayser³, Nicolas Demartines⁵, Martin Hübner⁵, David Martin⁷, Cyril Besson^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
² Department of Sports Medicine, Swiss Olympic Medical Center, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁶ Department of Physiotherapy, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁷ Department of Visceral Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland. david.martin@chuv.ch.

Abstract

Background: Prehabilitation may improve postoperative clinical outcomes among patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. This study evaluated the potential effects of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program performed before major abdominal surgery on patients' cardiorespiratory fitness and functional ability (secondary outcomes of pilot trial NCT02953119).

Methods: Patients were included before surgery to engage in a low-volume HIIT program with 3 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Cardiopulmonary exercise and 6-min walk (6MWT) testing were performed pre- and post-prehabilitation.

Results: Fourteen patients completed an average of 8.6 ± 2.2 (mean ± SD) sessions during a period of 27.9 ± 6.1 days. After the program, [Formula: see text]O₂ peak (+ 2.4 ml min^-1 kg^-1, 95% CI 0.8-3.9, p = 0.006), maximal aerobic power (+ 16.8 W, 95% CI 8.2-25.3, p = 0.001), [Formula: see text]O₂ at anaerobic threshold (+ 1.2 ml min^-1 kg^-1, 95%CI 0.4-2.1, p = 0.009) and power at anaerobic threshold (+ 12.4 W, 95%CI 4.8-20, p = 0.004) were improved. These changes were not accompanied by improved functional capacity (6MWT: + 2.6 m, 95% CI (- 19.6) to 24.8, p = 0.800).

Conclusion: A short low-volume HIIT program increases cardiorespiratory fitness but not walking capacity in patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery. These results need to be confirmed by larger studies.

Keywords: Aerobic capacity; CPET; Exercise; Major abdominal surgery; Prehabilitation.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02953119