An Investigation of Factors Affecting the Acquisition of Ambulatory Ability after an Operation for Primary Lung Cancer: The Role of Peri-Operative Physical Therapy for Lobectomy

[Purpose] We investigated the factors affecting the days till patients could walk continuously, about 50 m, after lobectomy. [Subjects] Subjects were 60 patients (66.9 ± 11.3 years, 42 males, 18 females) with primary lung cancer. [Methods] We investigated the lung function pre-operation, intervention of physical therapy at pre-operation, operative method, operated lobe, age, sex, and body mass index. We examined the relationship between these factors and the days till patients could walk continuously, about 50 m, after lobectomy. [Results] There were no relationships between the days the subjects could walk continuously, about 100 m, and factors we selected. Five patients took more than one week to be able to walk continuously, about 50 m, 3 were over 80 years old, 1 had air flow limitation (FEV1.0% < 40%) and 2 had low BMI (less than 21 kg/m2) before operation, and 1 had severe pain after the operation. [Conclusion] In patients with multiple risk factors for post-operative complications before operation, early ambulation immediately after the operation and improving exercise capacity before the operation were required as physical therapy treatments.