Multimodal prehabilitation in colorectal cancer patients to improve functional capacity and lower postoperative complications: A randomized clinical trial

Postoperative complications occur in up to 50% of patients and are associated with higher mortality, cancer recurrence rate and hospital costs. The number and severity of complications are closely related to preoperative functional capacity and nutritional status. This study aims to determine the effect of prehabilitation on patients' functional capacity and postoperative complications. It is a randomized trial including 112 patients undergoing colorectal surgery for cancer. Patients will be allocated to intervention group receiving 4 weeks trimodal prehabilitation (N=56) or control group receiving no prehabilitation (N=56). After surgery, both groups will follow 8 weeks rehabilitation based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines. The primary endpoint is functional capacity, secondary outcomes include postoperative complications and a cost-effectiveness analysis. Multimodal prehabilitation is expected to increase functional capacity and lower postoperative complications.