The physiotherapy management of patients undergoing abdominal surgery: A survey of current practice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the physiotherapy management of patients undergoing upper and lower abdominal surgery performed via open or laparoscopic approaches in public hospital surgical units throughout New Zealand. The study also aimed to establish factors influencing physiotherapy practice and determine how New Zealand practice compares to current best evidence. A purpose-designed survey was distributed via post to the senior surgical ward physiotherapist of all public hospitals in New Zealand offering abdominal surgery (n = 23). A response rate of 83% (n = 19) was obtained. No respondents reported routine physiotherapy input with patients prior to surgery. Only one surgical centre (5%) provided prehabilitation, and this was to highrisk patients only. Postoperatively most respondents reported routine assessment and treatment of patients following open upper abdominal surgery, but not following open lower abdominal surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Early mobilisation and respiratory physiotherapy interventions were the most commonly implemented interventions postoperatively. This study identified that physiotherapy interventions for patients receiving abdominal surgery mainly focus on postoperative assessment and treatment of patients undergoing open upper abdominal surgery. Few units routinely assess these patients preoperatively or offer prehabilitation. This study will allow physiotherapists working with patients undergoing abdominal surgery in New Zealand to compare their own practice to that of others and consider their use of current best available evidence.