Lack of Standardized Advice on Physical Strain Following Abdominal Surgery

Güsgen, Christoph; Willms, Arnulf; Schaaf, Sebastian; Prior, Marcus; Weber, Carsten; Schwab, Robert

doi:10.3238/arztebl.2020.0737

Cited by 8 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The department heads were asked to complete a questionnaire on their practice of postoperative recommendations on physical activity and strain after abdominal surgery. A brief description of that survey has already been published in the review by Güsgen et al ( 2 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A significant concern is that early or too progressive postoperative strain on the abdominal fascia might impair fascial healing and lead to higher incisional hernia rates or even burst abdomen. That is neither substantiated by biomechanical research nor observational study data ( 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Nevertheless, there is uncertainty to answer those questions, as the recommendations in the scientific literature are very heterogeneous concerning the posthospital course ( 2 ). Thus, it is likely that the advice given to patients is somewhat arbitrary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is likely that the advice given to patients is somewhat arbitrary. Probably, the recommendations on postoperative activity might be too restrictive ( 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As there is no conclusive data on postoperative recommendations after abdominal and hernia surgery and there is significant variation in the literature on that question, the data from previously published national ( 2 ) and international surveys ( 6 ) have been put together to evaluate further the status quo of recommendations of postoperative activity restriction after abdominal surgery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Recommendations on Postoperative Activities After Abdominal Operations and Incisional Hernia Repair—A National and International Survey

et al. 2021

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: There is no conclusive data on postoperative recommendations after abdominal and hernia surgery, and there is significant variation in the literature on that question. Thus, this study evaluates the status quo of recommendations of postoperative activity restriction after abdominal surgery.Materials and Methods: A national (German) and international survey of general surgeons on postoperative recommendations after abdominal and hernia surgery was pooled and analyzed.Results: A total of 74.6% recommended postoperative reduced activity for 2 weeks or less after laparoscopy. For midline laparotomy, 48.8% considered a reduced activity of 4 weeks or less to be sufficient. A majority from the national survey recommended more than 4 weeks instead (60.2%), whereas only 31.5% from the international survey did so (p = 0.000). In the pooled analysis, 258 of 450 (57.3%) rated 4 weeks or less suitable. However, the recommendations differed significantly between the surveys (4 weeks or less: a national survey, 47.1% vs. international survey, 64.6%; p = 0.000).Conclusion: There was substantial variation in the given recommendations. However, we found no evidence against immediate mobilization, reduced physical activity, and lifting for up to 2 weeks after laparoscopic surgery and for up to 4 weeks after open abdominal surgery and open incisional/ventral hernia repair in uncomplicated and standard cases. There might be individual and socioeconomic benefits to allow patients to return to their whole personal level of activity and work without putting them at risk of complications. Due to lack of evidence, both retrospective and prospective, controlled studies are in need to develop reliable recommendations.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is likely that the advice given to patients is somewhat arbitrary. Probably, the recommendations on postoperative activity might be too restrictive ( 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations