Thoracic Physiotherapy Surgery Network:
Thoracic surgery encompasses surgical conditions of the chest wall, lungs, pleura, diaphragm and contents of the mediastinum (which includes the trachea, oesophagus, thymus and pericardium).
Types of operations can included: Wedge resection, segmentectomy, lobectomy, bi-lobectomy, pneumonectomy, thymectomy, lung or pleural biopsy, pleurectomy, pectus deformity correction surgery and lung volume reduction surgery.
Surgery can be performed for a variety of reasons including cancer, diagnosis, symptom management and quality of life. The way the surgery is performed also varies on the operation being performed, surgeon preference and patients’ anatomy. Incisions include multiport VATS (Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery), Uniport VATS, RATS (Robotic-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery), Subxiphoid, Thoracotomy and Sternotomy.
Useful Resources:
Over the past 2 decades Thoracic surgery has evolved, from all surgery being completed by large thoracotomy and length of stays of 14 days, to being able to remove a whole lung in a VATS incision to patients being discharged after lobectomy on post-operative Day 1.
ERAS has played such an important role in evolving Thoracic surgery and as treatment continues to advance thoracic surgery will forever continue to develop and change.
ERAS is achieved through the introduction of multiple evidence-based perioperative measures that aim to diminish postoperative organ dysfunction whilst facilitating recovery. Physiotherapy plays a
huge part after thoracic surgery and in ERAS programmes, from pre-habilitation to postoperative mobilisation, exercise, and airway clearance management.
For more information about ERAS after thoracic surgery visit: Thoracic - ERAS® Society (erassociety.org)
Thoracic specialist Physiotherapist from the UK and Ireland are members of the Thoracic Physiotherapy Network who meet quarterly for peer support and learning and sharing service improvement projects, research studies and best practice. Within the network there is a variety of Physiotherapist roles, including prehab Physiotherapists and oncology Physiotherapists.
The network is currently chaired and co-chaired by:
Zoe Barrett-Brown (zoe.barrett-brown@nhs.net) – Team Lead Physiotherapist for Thoracic Surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge
Michelle Gibb (michelle.gibb@uhl-tr.nhs.uk) – Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Thoracic Surgery at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester
If you would like to join the network or would like to contact the network please email: thoracic.physionetwork@nhs.net
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