Rehabilitation Management for a Patient with Bilateral Pneumothorax after Surgery for Esophageal Cancer

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Background: Esophageal cancer is increasing in incidence in Japan and is usually treated by radical surgery. However, pulmonary complications are a major cause of perioperative mortality. Here we report a case in which bilateral pneumothorax after thoracoscopic esophagectomy was managed successfully by a combination of chest physiotherapy, mobilization, and delayed oral intake.

Case: The patient was a 72-year-old man with a diagnosis of lower thoracic esophageal cancer and a medical history that included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and two-field lymphadenectomy. On postoperative day (POD) 1, he was diagnosed as having bilateral pneumothorax. An additional drainage tube was inserted in the right chest. Chest physiotherapy was started using a combination of methods, including diaphragmatic breathing, respiratory muscle stretching, and postural drainage. Mobilization was started on POD 2 but was limited to sitting upright and standing. On POD 5, gentle walking training (Borg Scale score, 9–11) was started when air leakage from the drain was observed only during expiration. Oral food intake was resumed on POD 9, by which time the pneumothorax had resolved completely. The patient was discharged on POD 27 with near-complete independence in activities of daily living.

Discussion: We successfully managed the rehabilitation of a patient diagnosed with bilateral pneumothorax after esophagectomy. In a tailored strategy, we took the following measures to avoid worsening the pneumothorax and other surgery-related pulmonary complications: chest physiotherapy, avoiding procedures that increase intrathoracic pressure; delayed mobilization and reduced intensity of exercise; and delayed oral intake.