Preoperative rehabilitation, prehabilitation or prehab, is a form of healthcare intervention that takes place before a medical or surgical intervention with the aim to reduce side effects and complications, and enhance recovery.
[1] Prehab can be applied to surgical populations in oncology, cardiorespiratory, cardiovascular and orthopaedic settings.
Prehabilitation interventions are tailored to the patient so that even those with high amounts of comorbidities can receive a positive outcome.
[1] Prehab is also being considered for use in some cardiovascular interventions,[3] and may also be of some benefit for preventing lung complications, such as pulmonary atelectasis, in general surgery.
[4] For older people with frailty undergoing abdominal surgery, prehabilitation programmes that include exercise, improved diet and psychological support can reduce the length of hospital stay and decrease the risk of serious complications.