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Revista Médica del Uruguay
Print version ISSN 0303-3295On-line version ISSN 1688-0390
Abstract
LOPEZ, Patricia; MOREIRA, Eduardo; OLANO, Estela and SILVA, Lourdes. Recovery starts right before surgery. Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2023, vol.39, n.2, e501. Epub June 01, 2023. ISSN 0303-3295. https://doi.org/10.29193/rmu.39.2.10.
Patients undergoing major surgery face an important stress factor. Depending on the significance of the surgery, response to surgical stress may alter metabolic processes and surgical stress response. Despite any surgical complication, there is evidence that major surgeries reduce the physiological and functional capacity of individuals. Simultaneously, inactivity and bed rest may result in rapid muscle atrophy. These consequences are often associated to worsened surgical outcome. Prehabilitation in patients undergoing surgery constitutes an innovative approach in the field of medicine that seeks to improve surgical outcome of patients by optimizing their physical and mental conditions before surgery. Unlike rehabilitation that takes place after surgery to contribute to recovery, prehabilitation is done before surgery and aims to the comprehensive preparation of patients. The main objective of surgical prehabilitation is to minimize the negative effects of surgery, accelerate recovery and improve the quality of life after surgery. To that end, different multidisciplinary interventions are applied to address physical, emotional and nutritional aspects of patients. The study explores the concept of rehabilitation as an effective tool to improve patient’s outcome after surgery. Different strategies and approaches that may be implemented as part of surgical rehabilitation are discussed, with the purpose of minimizing complications, accelerating recovery and improving postoperative quality of life. Besides, the study analyzes current evidence available and emphasize on the need to conduct further research to validate and amplify knowledge on this promising area o perioperative medicine.
Keywords : Surgery; Perioperative period; Postoperative care; Enhanced recovery after surgery.