SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026
Effects of different rehabilitation strategies on physical function and complications in postoperative patients with esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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7 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Pulmonary complications remain a major challenge after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. While rehabilitation interventions aligned with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles show promise, the term "rehabilitation" is often applied to highly variable approaches-from isolated breathing exercises to comprehensive multimodal programs-raising concerns about clinical interpretability and generalizability. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of structured perioperative rehabilitation, with emphasis on intervention comprehensiveness, timing, and implications for real-world implementation. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and CBM from inception to October 31, 2024. Of 37 included studies, only 12 delivered interventions integrating ≥2 core components (e.g., exercise plus nutrition or education). Due to high clinical and statistical heterogeneity ( Results: Comprehensive perioperative rehabilitation (integrating prehabilitation and postoperative rehabilitation) was uniquely associated with a significant reduction in postoperative pneumonia [RR = 0.34, 95% CI (0.19, 0.61); Conclusion: Multimodal, multi-phase rehabilitation may meaningfully improve short-term recovery after esophagectomy, but its benefits are outcome-specific and contingent on intervention design: pneumonia prevention requires integrated perioperative care, while reductions in resource use and improvements in baseline physiology are primarily driven by prehabilitation. The current literature suffers from conceptual dilution of "rehabilitation," methodological variability, and limited long-term data. To enhance public health impact, future efforts should focus on scalable, standardized delivery models-such as community-integrated or telehealth-supported pathways-that extend support beyond hospital discharge, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024617815.
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