Does Early Postoperative Ambulation Improve Surgical Outcomes After Lung Resection for Cancer?

Postoperative mobilization following lung cancer resection is an important factor in helping reduce complications following surgery. Open transthoracic approaches can be painful and ultimately cause patients to have difficulty with ambulation postoperatively. Including early mobilization into clinical practice is vital to patient-centered care. The negative effects of immobilization following surgery are well known including risks of pneumonia, thromboembolism, and muscle wasting. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have become an important adjunct to reducing the risks associated with immobilization. This chapter focuses on reviewing the data analyzing early mobilization following lung resection for malignancy.