Activity Tracking After Surgery: Does It Correlate With Postoperative Complications?. Issue 2 (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nevo, Yehonatan; Shaltiel, Tali; Constantini, Naama; Rosin, Danny; Gutman, Mordechai; Zmora, Oded; Nevler, Avinoam
• Is Part Of: American surgeon. Volume 88:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 232
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: enhanced recovery programs after surgery -- general surgery -- surgical quality; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery -- United States -- Periodicals; 617.0973
• DOI: 10.1177/0003134820988818
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-1348

Abstract

Background: Postoperative ambulation is an important tenet in enhanced recovery programs. We quantitatively assessed the correlation of decreased postoperative ambulation with postoperative complications and delays in gastrointestinal function. Methods: Patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were fitted with digital ankle pedometers yielding continuous measurements of their ambulation. Primary endpoints were the overall and system-specific complication rates, with secondary endpoints being the time to first passage of flatus and stool, the length of hospital stay, and the rate of readmission. Results: 100 patients were enrolled. We found a significant, independent inverse correlation between the number of steps on the first and second postoperative days (POD1/2) and the incidence of complications as well as the recovery of GI function and the likelihood of readmission ( P < .05). POD2 step count was an independent risk factor for severe complications ( P = .026). Discussion: Digitally quantified ambulation data may be a prognostic biomarker for the likelihood of severe postoperative complications.