Effect of multimodal prehabilitation on reducing postoperative complications and enhancing functional capacity following colorectal cancer surgery. The PREHAB randomized clinical trial.

Molenaar CJL, Minnella EM, Coca-Martinez M, ten Cate DWG, Regis M, Awasthi R et al, for the PREHAB Study Group.

JAMA Surg 2023; 158: 572-581.

The study included 251 participants, who mostly had laparoscopic or robotic resection. A 4-week supervised, multimodal prehabilitation programme reduced severe postoperative complications: 17.1 versus 29.7 per cent, P=0.02. Prehabilitation generally improved functional capacity up to four weeks postoperatively.

Comment: More evidence that a good recovery from surgery starts well before hospital admission.