Ultra-early initiation of postoperative rehabilitation in the post-anaesthesia care unit after major thoracic surgery: case-control study.

Background: Physiotherapy is a major cornerstone of enhanced rehabilitation after surgery (ERAS) and reduces the development of atelectasis after thoracic surgery. By initiating physiotherapy in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU), the aim was to evaluate whether the ultra-early initiation of rehabilitation (in the first hour following tracheal extubation) would improve the outcomes of patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery.

Methods: A case-control study with a before-and-after design was conducted.

Lung Ultrasound Findings in the Postanesthesia Care Unit Are Associated With Outcome After Major Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study in a High-Risk Cohort.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with increased morbidity. Identifying patients at higher risk for such complications may allow preemptive treatment.

Methods: Patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score >1 and who were scheduled for major surgery of >2 hours were enrolled in a single-center prospective study.