Investigation of the immediate pre-operative physical capacity of patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery using the 6-minute walk test

• Published in: Physiotherapy 2015-09, Vol.101 (3), p.292-297
• Main Authors: Soares, S.M.T.P, Jannuzzi, H.P.C, Kassab, M.F.O, Nucci, L.B, Paschoal, M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-Minute walk test; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Dyspnea - physiopathology; Elective Surgical Procedures; Exercise Test; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Fatigue - physiopathology; Female; Heart Rate; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Physical capacity; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Pre-operative care; Urogenital Surgical Procedures; Walking - physiology
• ISSN: 0031-9406; 1873-1465
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2014.11.004

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the effects of repetition of the 6-minute walk test in patients scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery within the next 48 hours, and to verify the physical capacity of these subjects before surgery. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University teaching hospital. Participants Forty-two patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery within the next 48 hours. Outcome measures Distance walked in the 6-minute walk test, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, dyspnoea and leg fatigue. Results Thirty-one patients (74%) were able to walk for a longer distance when the test was repeated. In these subjects, the mean increase in distance walked was 35.4 [standard deviation (SD) 19.9] m. Heart rate, dyspnoea and leg fatigue increased significantly over time on both tests ( P < 0.05). The mean heart rate at the end of the sixth minute was significantly higher on the second test ( P = 0.022). Peripheral oxygen saturation remained above 90% in both tests. The furthest distance walked was, on average, 461.3 (SD 89.7) m. This value was significantly lower than that predicted for the sample ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Patients scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery were able to walk further when they performed a second 6-minute walk test. Moreover, they showed reduced physical ability before surgery. These findings suggest that repetition of the 6-minute walk test may increase the accuracy of the distance walked, which is useful for studies assessing the physical capacity of patients undergoing abdominal surgery.