2024 Volume 1 Pages 5-10
Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of cases where Activities of Daily Living (ADL) decline following surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. The subjects were 60 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent pleurectomy/decortication at our hospital. Evaluation items were patient background, preoperative factors, intraoperative factors, and postoperative factors. The Barthel Index (BI) was used for ADL evaluation, and those whose score declined between pre-operation and discharge were classified as the BI-declined group. In the analysis, the variables were compared by grouping into BI-declined vs maintained.
Results: Among the subjects, 11 cases (18%) were observed where the BI declined. In the comparison of BI decline vs maintenance, the BI-declined group had fewer epithelioid cases (p<0.05) and lower exercise tolerance (p<0.05). Also, the BI-declined group had a higher incidence of respiratory complications (p<0.05) and a longer time until the first thoracic drain removal.
Conclusion: Preoperative pathological classification, preoperative six minutes' walk distance, and postoperative respiratory complications may be associated with a decrease in the Barthel Index.
