[Preoperative rehabilitation in the surgical treatment of lung cancer].

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of preoperative rehabilitation on operability and postoperative outcome in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: We studied retrospectively 27 patients who underwent respiratory rehabilitation for 4 weeks prior to lung cancer resection and 26 patients who were operated without previous rehabilitation (control group). Spirometry, arterial blood gases, and exercise tests with maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) were assessed pre and postoperatively.