Table 1.
Preoperative characteristics of patients in the study cohort
| Study cohort (n = 26) | |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | |
| 18−64 | 6 |
| 65–74 | 9 |
| ≥ 75 | 11 |
| Mean (s.d.) | 71.6 (8.7) |
| Sex | |
| M | 18 |
| F | 8 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | |
| < 18.5 | 0 |
| 18.5–25.0 | 6 |
| 25.1–29.9 | 4 |
| ≥ 30.0 | 16 |
| Median (i.q.r.) | 31.3 (27.0-34.9) |
| Smoker | 8 |
| Charlson Co-morbidity Index score | |
| < 5 | 3 |
| 5–9 | 17 |
| ≥ 10 | 6 |
| Mean (s.d.) | 7.6 (2.4) |
| ASA fitness grade | |
| I−II | 10 |
| ≥ III | 16 |
| Aerobic fitness | |
| VO2 at VAT (ml per kg per min), mean (s.d.)* | 9.5 (0.9) |
| VO2peak (ml per kg per min), mean (s.d.)† | 14.5 (2.2) |
| Haemoglobin (mmol/l), median (i.q.r.) | 8.3 (7.2-9.2) |
| Indication for referral | |
| Colorectal liver metastases | 3 |
| Liver tumour | 6 |
| Gallbladder and biliary tract tumour | 5 |
| Pancreatic head tumour | 8 |
| Pancreatic body/tail tumour | 3 |
| Other‡ | 1 |
| Eventually underwent surgery | |
| Yes | 20 |
| No, (partly) owing to patient’s condition | 1 |
| No, other reason§ | 5 |
| Interval between baseline CPET and surgery (days), median (i.q.r.)¶ | 53 (50-72) |
| Interval between second CPET and surgery (days), median (i.q.r.)# | 12 (3-18) |
*Based on 25 patients, as oxygen uptake (VO2) at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) during pre-prehabilitation cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) could not be determined for 1 patient; the patient was nonetheless included in the study, as the oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2peak) at pre-prehabilitation CPET was below 11 ml per kg per min. †Based on 19 patients as 7 patients did not meet the criteria for a valid maximal effort during pre-prehabilitation CPET. ‡Colonic tumour with invasion of pancreas.§Tumour found to be unresectable when the patient was already listed for surgery. ¶Based on 20 patients as 6 did not have surgery. #Based on 15 patients as 7 did not undergo second CPET and 4 did not have surgery.