Routine pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy fitness testing is not indicated for oesophagogastric cancer surgery

Decrease of physical fitness during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy predicts the risk of pneumonia after esophagectomy

Although neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is frequently used in esophageal cancer patients undergoing treatment with curative intent, it can negatively impact patients' physical fitness. A decline in physical fitness during chemoradiotherapy may be an indication of vulnerability. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether changes in physical fitness, weight, and fat-free mass index (FFMI) during nCRT can predict the risk of postoperative pneumonia. A retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study was performed in patients who received curative treatment for esophageal cancer between September 2016 and September 2018 in a high-volume center for esophageal cancer surgery. Physical fitness (handgrip strength, leg extension strength, and exercise capacity), weight, and FFMI were measured before and after chemoradiotherapy. To be included in the data analyses, pre- and post-nCRT data had to be available of at least one of the outcome measures. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of changes in physical fitness, weight, and FFMI during nCRT on postoperative pneumonia, as defined by the Uniform Pneumonia Scale. In total, 91 patients were included in the data analyses. Significant associations were found between the changes in handgrip strength (odds ratio [OR] 0.880, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.813-0.952) and exercise capacity (OR 0.939, 95%CI: 0.887-0.993) and the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia. All pneumonias occurred in patients with declines in handgrip strength and exercise capacity after nCRT. A decrease of handgrip strength and exercise capacity during nCRT predicts the risk of pneumonia after esophagectomy for cancer. Measuring physical fitness before and after chemoradiotherapy seems an adequate method to identify patients at risk of postoperative pneumonia.

Preoperative Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Associated with Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

BACKGROUNDS

There is mixed evidence on the value of preoperative cardiorespiratory exercise test (CPET) to predict postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing a cancer surgical procedure. The purpose of this review was to investigate the association between preoperative CPET variables and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and quality of life in patients undergoing cancer surgery.

METHODS

A search was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, and Web of science from inception to April 2020. Cohort studies investigating the association between preoperative CPET variables, including peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂), anaerobic threshold (AT), or ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (V_E/V_CO2), and postoperative outcomes (complications, length of stay, and quality of life) were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS tool. A random-effect model meta-analysis was performed whenever possible.

RESULTS

Fifty-two unique studies, including 10,030 patients were included. Overall, most studies were rated as having low risk of bias. Higher preoperative peak VO₂ was associated with absence of postoperative complications (mean difference [MD]: 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-3.29) and no pulmonary complication (MD: 1.47; 95% CI: 0.49-2.45). Preoperative AT and V_E/V_CO2 also demonstrated some positive trends. None of the included studies reported a negative trend.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated a significant association between superior preoperative CPET values, especially peak VO₂, and better postoperative outcomes. The assessment of preoperative functional capacity in patients undergoing cancer surgery has the potential to facilitate treatment decision making.

Does Cardiopulmonary Testing Help Predict Long-Term Survival After Esophagectomy?

Background

Esophagectomy is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Preoperative cardiopulmonary fitness has been correlated with outcomes of major surgery. Variables derived from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) have been associated with postoperative outcomes. It is unclear whether preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness of patients undergoing esophagectomy is associated with long-term survival. This study aimed to evaluate whether any of the CPET variables routinely derived from patients with esophageal cancer may aid in predicting long-term survival after esophagectomy.

Methods

Patients undergoing CPET followed by trans-thoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with curative intent between January 2013 and January 2017 from single high-volume center were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between predictive co-variables, including CPET variables and survival, was studied with a Cox proportional hazard model. Receiver operation curve (ROC) analysis was performed to find cutoff values for CPET variables predictive of 3-year survival.

Results

The study analyzed 313 patients. The ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO₂) at the anerobic threshold was the only CPET variable independently predictive of long-term survival in the multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.049; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.011–1.088; p = 0.011). Pathologic stages 3 and 4 disease was the other co-variable found to be independently predictive of survival. An ROC analysis of the VE/VCO₂ failed to demonstrate a predictive cutoff value of 3-year survival (area under the curve, 0.564; 95% CI, 0.499–0.629; p = 0.056).

Conclusions

A high VE/VCO₂ before esophagectomy for malignant disease is an independent predictor of long-term survival and may be an important variable for clinicians to consider when counseling patients.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Oesophagogastric Surgery: a Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) can objectively measure fitness and oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold. The relationship between fitness and postoperative outcomes after upper gastro-intestinal surgery is unclear. The aim of the present review is to assess the prognostic ability of CPX in predicting postoperative outcome associated with oesophagogastric surgery.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified through a systematic search of EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to July 2019. The eligibility criteria for studies included prognostic studies of upper gastro-intestinal surgery among adult populations using a preoperative CPX and measurement of postoperative outcome (mortality or morbidity or length of stay). Risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS Quality in Prognostic Studies validated tool.

RESULTS

Thirteen papers with a total of 1735 participants were included in data extraction. A total of 7 studies examined the association between CPX variables and postoperative mortality. Patients undergoing gastro-intestinal surgery with lower anaerobic threshold values were found to have an increased risk of postoperative mortality. Similarly, a lower rate of oxygen consumption was found to be associated with higher mortality. There was conflicting evidence regarding the association between CPX variables and postoperative morbidity. The evidence did not demonstrate any association between preoperative CPX variables and hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSION

Studies report an association between CPX variables and postoperative mortality; however, there is conflicting evidence regarding the association between CPX variables and postoperative morbidity.

Performance of cardiopulmonary exercise testing for the prediction of post-operative complications in non cardiopulmonary surgery: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is widely used within the United Kingdom for preoperative risk stratification. Despite this, CPET's performance in predicting adverse events has not been systematically evaluated within the framework of classifier performance.

METHODS

After prospective registration on PROSPERO (CRD42018095508) we systematically identified studies where CPET was used to aid in the prognostication of mortality, cardiorespiratory complications, and unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission in individuals undergoing non-cardiopulmonary surgery. For all included studies we extracted or calculated measures of predictive performance whilst identifying and critiquing predictive models encompassing CPET derived variables.

RESULTS

We identified 36 studies for qualitative review, from 27 of which measures of classifier performance could be calculated. We found studies to be highly heterogeneous in methodology and quality with high potential for bias and confounding. We found seven studies that presented risk prediction models for outcomes of interest. Of these, only four studies outlined a clear process of model development; assessment of discrimination and calibration were performed in only two and only one study undertook internal validation. No scores were externally validated. Systematically identified and calculated measures of test performance for CPET demonstrated mixed performance. Data was most complete for anaerobic threshold (AT) based predictions: calculated sensitivities ranged from 20-100% when used for predicting risk of mortality with high negative predictive values (96-100%). In contrast, positive predictive value (PPV) was poor (2.9-42.1%). PPV appeared to be generally higher for cardiorespiratory complications, with similar sensitivities. Similar patterns were seen for the association of Peak VO2 (sensitivity 85.7-100%, PPV 2.7-5.9%) and VE/VCO2 (Sensitivity 27.8%-100%, PPV 3.4-7.1%) with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In general CPET's 'rule-out' capability appears better than its ability to 'rule-in' complications. Poor PPV may reflect the frequency of complications in studied populations. Our calculated estimates of classifier performance suggest the need for a balanced interpretation of the pros and cons of CPET guided pre-operative risk stratification.