Analysis of the impact of ERAS-based respiratory function training on older patients’ ability to prevent pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery

Table 1 Demographic and surgical characteristics of the 231 patients

Variable	ERAS group	Control group	P value
Age in yr	72.06 ± 4.72	72.40 ± 4.89	0.59
Sex as male:female	61:51	55:64	0.21
Smoking as yes:no	45:67	53:66	0.50
ASA grade			0.22
I	39 (34.82%)	50 (42.02%)
II	40 (35.71%)	30 (25.21%)
III	33 (29.47%)	39 (32.77%)
IV	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Classification of surgical complexity			0.96
1	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
2	11 (9.82%)	13 (10.92%)
3	72 (64.29%)	76 (63.87%)
4	29 (25.89%)	30 (25.21%)
5	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Epidural analgesia	62	52	0.08

ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; ERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery.

Table 2 Details of the 231 patients’ surgeries

Surgery	ERAS group	Control group	P value
Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: hepatectomy, bile duct exploration, pancreaticoduodenal surgery, etc.	28 (25.0%)	26 (21.85%)	0.72
Cholecystectomy: laparoscopic or open	31 (27.68%)	27 (22.69%)
Gastric and esophageal surgery	9 (8.03%)	12 (10.09%)
Colorectal surgery	11 (9.82%)	10 (8.40%)
Small intestine: small bowel resection	2 (1.79%)	1 (0.84%)
Others: hernia repair, splenectomy, appendix, etc.	31 (27.68%)	43 (36.13%)

ERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery.

Table 3 Walking test parameters for 231 patients at 2 d, 3 d, and 4 d after surgery

Parameter	Baseline value	ERAS group			Control group
		2 d	3 d	4 d	2 d	3 d	4 d
Borg score median	2	2	2	2	3	2	2
Heart rate median/min	86	88.5	81	78	84	81	79
Respiratory frequency median/min	18	19	16	17	18	17	17
SaO2 median %	95	96	97	92	96	97	92

ERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery.

Table 4 Comparison of main outcomes between enhanced recovery after surgery group and control group

Parameter	ERAS group	Control group	P value
Main outcome
Respiratory tract infection	21 (18.75%)	41 (34.45%)	0.007
New/changed X-ray findings	48 (42.86%)	64 (53.78%)	0.114
White blood cell more than 12	39 (34.82%)	56 (47.06%)	0.063
Temperature more than 38 degree centigrade	37 (33.04%)	54 (45.38%)	0.060
Positive sputum bacteria	19 (16.96%)	31 (26.05%)	0.111
Antibiotic therapy	22 (19.64%)	40 (33.61%)	0.018
Secondary results
Preoperative hospitalization time more than 2 d	59 (52.68%)	65 (54.62%)
Preoperative hospitalization time more than 2 d in patients with respiratory tract infection	11 (9.82%)	24 (20.17%)	0.029
The postoperative length of stay in d	9.5 (3-21)	11 (4-18)	0.028
FEV1/FVC more than 70%	86 (76.79%)	74 (62.18%)	0.022

ERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery; FEV1: Forced expiratory volume in 1s; FVC: Forced vital capacity.