Interventions Provided by Physiotherapists to Prevent Complications After Major Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Major surgery for gastrointestinal cancer carries a 50% risk of postoperative complications. Physiotherapists commonly provide interventions to patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery for cancer with the intent of preventing complications and improving recovery. However, the evidence is unclear if physiotherapy is effective compared to providing no physiotherapy, nor if timing of service delivery during the perioperative pathway influences outcomes. The objective of this review is to evaluate and synthesise the evidence examining the effects of perioperative physiotherapy interventions delivered with prophylactic intent on postoperative outcomes compared to no treatment or early mobilisation alone.

Methods

A protocol was prospectively registered wi

SUBMITTER: White S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11853706 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature