Use of a Perioperative Web-Based Exercise Program for a Patient with Barrett’s Carcinoma Scheduled for Esophagectomy

Tumor resection is the only curative treatment for esophageal cancer. The surgical procedure and the mostly accompanied neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are often associated with a reduction in cardiopulmonary function and a high level of morbidity [1, 2]. Preoperative functional capacity is an important predictor for the postoperative prognosis [2-4]. Prehabilitation, correctly implemented, improves functional capacity and reduces postoperative complications [5, 6]. Relevant clinical effects of exercise interventions have been proven over all phases of the oncological treatment [7]. These exercise interventions were also feasible for patients undergoing CRT [8]. However, a limited period of time between diagnosis and resection usually leads to postpone exercise therapy to the postoperative period [9]. Since a poor preoperative functional capacity increases the perioperative risk, patients should be additionally and ideally transferred to an individualized exercise prehabilitation program. A group-based, supervised exercise program, which should take place several times a week, in order to achieve positive effects, is complex to implement [10]. These programs are limited to a clinical center and are not regularly accessible to patients from rural areas. Furthermore, inpatient programs are costly, and the adherence is a crucial issue [11]. Prehabilitation and postoperative exercise programs need to be: firstly, tailored to individual needs and immediately adaptable to new circumstances, secondly, dynamic with a progressive increase in the exercise recommendations, thirdly, feasible to enhance patients’ adherence, fourthly, controlled by a trained professional and fifthly, accessible at any time [3]. In response to these challenges, a web-based exercise approach has been initiated for careful supervision and individual support of patients in their living environment during their perioperative cancer therapy [12].

The presented case was a participant in the internet-based perioperative exercise program (iPEP-study); (Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02478996). Patients in the intervention group (IG) perform an individualized exercise program until surgery (between 8 and 12 weeks), and after surgery for another period of 12 weeks [12]. Here, we present the data of a 57 year-old patient, scheduled for esophagectomy, without athletic experience. The man was diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma (stage: cT3 cN + cM0; histology: adenocarcinoma; secondary diagnosis: depressive disorder). Beside a five-week neoadjuvant CRT (radiotherapy: ZV1A: 3DCRT, photons; 41.4 Gy; 5 × 1.8 Gy/week; chemotherapy: 5× Paclitaxel 50 mg/m² KOF + Carboplatin AUC2) according to the CROSS regimen [13] he performed 10 weeks of the web-based prehabilitation exercise training (preconditioning). He finished the tailored exercise program (postconditioning) following oncologic esophagectomy and 11 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation after 36 weeks (Fig. 1).

At the beginning of the web-based exercise program, the patient was registered on our website, and he obtained the training materials, including resistance bands (Pinofit®) and a heart rate monitor (FT1, Polar®). The website enabled the patient to receive individual exercise recommendations from a sports therapist, to download exercise descriptions as PDF and video files, and to interact with other patients. The study participant was thoroughly tested three times in our department (T0–T2). To each measuring point, anthropometric data, first second of forced expiration (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were assessed (Bodybox 5500, Medisoft), functional capacity (maximum oxygen uptake (VO_2max), Ventilation, individual anaerobic threshold, and Wattmax) were measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) (treadmill: Saturn, HP Cosmos®; Ergostick, Geratherm®; ECG: ECGpro, AmedTec®), including blood lactate analyses (EKF diagnostics®; Winlactat 3.0 Mesics GmbH). Further, the dysphagia score, the nutritional risk score, and the stress metabolism score were evaluated. The subjective evaluation of the program content was additionally assessed at the end of the study (Table 2). The first test was before the preconditioning (T0), the second one was 3 days before surgery (T1) and the third was after 14 weeks of postconditioning (T2); (Fig. 1). A modified treadmill walking protocol was chosen for the CPET [12]. During the intervention period, every Monday the sports therapist sent a message with adapted exercise recommendations for the entire week (via Email). The patient was able to decide by himself, when to perform the training during the current week. He was encouraged to perform these exercises, rate the demanded program, based on perceived exertion (RPE; 0–10), and perceived discomfort (RPD; 0–10), and to record the average heartrate to the end of the week [12] (Fig. 2).

The preconditioning exercise program lasted about ten weeks. CRT was implemented from week two until week six. The patient performed 42 (26 endurance exercise sessions (EE) & 16 resistance exercise (RE) sessions) of 44 recommended training sessions in the preconditioning period. This corresponds to a mean of 131 (±38) min of total training (67 min endurance exercise; 64 min resistance exercise) per week. The number of exercise recommendations was progressively increased each month [12]. The patient performed five to seven training sessions per week during the last six weeks before the hospitalization.

The mean RPE value was 7 (±2) for both exercise types – EE and RE. The mean heart rate (HR) was 141 (±2) beats/min during EE. This heart rate corresponded to a sufficient training intensity according to his individual anaerobic threshold (IAT).The RPE and the RPD changed conspicuously during CRT and two weeks after the CRT. Whereas the prescribed intensity of EE did not change, the RPE values increased from 5 to 8.5 and reached the maximum of 9.5 in week seven (one week after the CRT). In the same week, the RPD value increased once up to 5.Similarly, the RPE- and RPD values were also higher in RE with the start of CRT. The RPE values increased from 6 to 8.5 and reached their maximum in week 7 and 8, two weeks after CRT. The RPD value increased up to 5 in week 7 and 8. According to its own statement, the increased RPD value came about by dizziness and nausea and could be further influenced by a present acute gastritis. Contrastingly to EE, the RPD value in RE increased moderately up to 2.5 in week 4, 5 and 6 during CRT. This reported discomfort resulted from chest pain. The information about the surgery and the postoperative complications are listed in Table 1. After the esophagectomy, the patient spent three weeks in the hospital.

After hospital discharge, the patient had five weeks of convalescence followed by three weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. Afterwards, 14 weeks of postconditioning exercise was conducted. The patient performed 52 (31 EE and 21 RE) of 48 recommended training sessions in the post-conditioning period. This corresponds to a mean of 165 (±87) min of total training (95 min EE; 70 min RE) per week. The mean HR was 129 (±4) beats/min during EE.

The mean RPE was 5 (±1) for EE and 6 (±1) for RE, whereas he reported no discomfort (RPD) at all. Two weeks of training interruptions were due to holidays and a cold. The patient reported that he could not reach the demanded HR during endurance training in the first week of the post-conditioning period without giving reasons, but also reported a lower RPE value.

Consequently, the recommendations were immediately adjusted by the sports scientist. The detailed training evaluation is shown in Table 2. According to the subjective statement, the intervention was feasible and helpful for him. The patient used the website regularly and logged in for 70 times and 237 min during the entire course of the intervention.

Of these, 40 Log-ins and 191 min were in the preconditioning period, and 30 Log-ins and 46 min in the postconditioning period. The physiological changes of T0, T1, and T2 are shown in Table 2 and the blood lactate curve within the IAT is illustrated in Figure 3. Despite CRT, all parameters could be maintained at the same level from T0 to T1. From T1 to T2, a weight loss of 9.6 kg (90.2–80.6 kg) could be observed. FEV1 decreased from 101–92 %pred, VE_max (L/min) decreased from 87 to 78 L/min, and VO_{2 max} slightly decreased from 23.2 to 22.2 mL/min/kg. In the maximum endurance test, the patient completed five increments of the protocol and reached a Watt/kg_max of 1.2 to all three measuring time points. The IAT performance increased from 0.9 to 1.1 Watt (Fig. 3).

The present case report demonstrates, that the cost- and time effective, personalized, web-based exercise pre- and postconditioning intervention was tolerable, safe, and helpful for the patient. The patient’s adherence to the program was noteworthy.

The 57 year-old patient reported no difficulties or complications in using the webpage. Thus, the patient was 100% compliant and uploaded all exercise protocols in time. The regular communication through the webpage was essential, due to unpredictable changes in the health situation and the immediate and dynamic adaptions of the exercise recommendations by the sports therapist. CRT without accompanied exercise therapy causes a clinically significant decrease in VO_{2 peak} and anaerobic threshold (AT) [14]. Further, O’Neill et al. [4] observed that in the first three months post-resection, the VO_{2 max} and the AT are reduced in esophagogastric patients. Contrastingly, the functional capacity of our participant, expressed as VO_2max and Watt_max, could be maintained during the entire treatment process.

In current exercise guidelines for cancer patients, it has been recommended that patients should perform “150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise spread over 3–5 days and resistance training at least two days per week” [15]. Resistance sessions should involve “major muscle groups 2–3 days per week (8–10 muscle groups, 8–10 repetitions, two sets), on an ongoing basis as a part of their life.” Pre-exercise assessment should be performed and exercise should be conducted in a group or supervised setting [15]. Our concept enabled the patient in the preoperative waiting period, to perform on average, 131 min/week, 3–5 session/week (2–3 endurance; 1–2 resistance). Thus, the patient nearly fulfilled the exercise guidelines at a sufficient training intensity – even during the neoadjuvant therapy. We implemented pre-exercise assessment by CPET, in order to figure out the optimal individual exercise dosage and for the exclusion of cardiopulmonary limitations and contraindications. For this web-based approach, CPET is an obligatory element in order to prescribe exercise to a sufficient extent and to protect the participant from overload.

Minella et al. [6] examined a structured preoperative exercise intervention, which was feasible, safe, and efficacious in preventing a decrease of functional capacity pre-and post-surgery. This research group observed an increase of functional capacity measured by the 6-minute walking distance (6 MWD) compared to a control group [6]. Even though this assessment is less sensitive, it illustrates the probable differences between non-exercising and exercising patients very well. The prescribed exercises were comparable to our intervention. However, there was only one supervised session per week with additional phone calls for further support [6].

Recently, Singh et al. [8] reported that ten weeks of combined resistance and aerobic exercise during CRT were feasible and improved muscle strength in patients with rectal cancer. In contrast to our program, mainly machine supported resistance training was applied [8]. It seems reasonable to suppose, that machine supported training is more effective than a simple resistance band training. However, it contains demanding procedures for patients and the supporting team. In particular, hospital-based programs are costly and have a high degree of organizational effort [11]. A group-based, supervised exercise program, which should take place several times a week, is therefore difficult to implement [9, 10]. In addition, these programs are limited to a clinical center and are not regularly accessible to patients from rural areas. An advantage of our approach is the easy and flexible integration of the exercise program into the home environment. Despite the distance, our patient felt safe and well supported during the exercise units.

In the guidelines for perioperative care in esophagectomy, it has been suggested that the value of prehabilitation is at least equivalent to the importance of postoperative programs [16]. According to the guidelines, we could clearly show that preconditioning leads to a sustained functional capacity during and after CRT. In the postconditioning period, we enabled the patient to return to regular physical activity. Treatment related changes and, thus, varying demands and conditions require a tailored exercise approach, throughout all phases of care, in order to individually promote and protect the patient. This case report does not demonstrate how the functional capacity was changed immediately after surgery. Additionally, our study design prevents an assessment of only the post-conditioning program, due to the time gap between T1 (3 days before surgery) and T2 (25 weeks after surgery). The results of T2 were influenced by various factors such as surgery, stationary rehabilitation, and the postconditioning program. A CPET after surgery and ideally after the stationary rehabilitation would be necessary to cope with these issues. However, a CPET immediately after surgery is not feasible, due to the patients’ acute condition. The amount of weekly performed exercises, as well as the RPE and the RPD, were self-reported by the patient. A measurement of the home-based resistance band exercise was not performed. Strength exercise in this study should rather be seen as a complementary aspect in the exercise program, which is particularly difficult to control in the patient’s home environment.

The personalized, web-based exercise intervention was feasible and helpful for a patient with Barrett’s carcinoma scheduled for esophagectomy. The preconditional exercise prevented a presumed CRT-induced loss of functional capacity. The postoperative exercise led to an adequately adapted training regime after surgery and a structured return into regular physical activity. Moreover, the patient’s adherence was noteworthy during the preconditioning period, including CRT, and during the postconditioning period. Close patient contact is required to regularly motivate the patient to exercise, to solve exercise related problems and to adjust the exercise program. Finally, this approach complements a comprehensive clinical care, in a health-promoting, cost-effective and patient-safely way.

We thank the Barrett-Initiative e.V. for funding of the iPEP-study.

The research was conducted ethically in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. The subject has given his written informed consent to publish his case.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The Barrett-Initiative e.V. funds the iPEP-Study. The Barrett-Initiative e.V. is a non-profit organization with the aim, to analyze the causes and pathophysiology of Barrett’s esophagus and carcinoma. It is an independent organization, and its steering committee decides independently, which Barrett-projects and research are funded. Data collection, analysis, interpretation and writing the manuscript can be supported by the Barrett-Initiative e.V.

IG, PS, and DP developed the study concept. DP designed the online tool. PS, and DP designed the exercise components. All authors contributed to the conception, analysis, and interpretation of the manuscript. BH and DP drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final document.