Early Feeding and Mobilization in Thoracic Surgery

NCT07232394 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ERAS-VATS01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 232
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an innovative care assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization following thoracic surgery, based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. The aim is to improve postoperative recovery by helping healthcare providers implement a structured, evidence-based plan for early feeding and activity. The study will compare the new care model (ERAS-based) with traditional postoperative care. The investigators will focus on outcomes like recovery quality, complications, hospital stay, and medication use. This research aims to provide solid evidence for integrating early feeding and mobilization into routine thoracic surgery recovery, potentially improving patient comfort, reducing recovery time, and lowering complications.

Conditions

Thoracic Surgery Lung; Nursing Cares; ERAS

Keywords

ERAS; lung cancer; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; nursing care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score

  The QoR-15 scale is a 15-item questionnaire used to assess the patient's quality of life during the postoperative recovery process, covering aspects such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, physical function, and emotional recovery. The higher the total score, the better the postoperative recovery quality.

  24 hours post-surgery.

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Chest Tube Placement Duration

  Perioperative.

• Total Drainage Volume from Chest Tube

  Perioperative.

• Postoperative Hospitalization Duration

  Perioperative.

• Postoperative Complications

  Perioperative.

• Total Hospitalization Costs

  Perioperative.

Study Arms (2)

ERAS nursing group

EXPERIMENTAL

The ERAS nursing group implements the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, where the medical team uses developed assessment tools to individualize the timing for each patient's first mobilization and oral intake after surgery. This intervention aims to promote postoperative recovery, reduce postoperative complications, and shorten hospital stays.

Behavioral: Traditional nursing; Behavioral: ERAS protocol

Traditional nursing group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The traditional nursing group receives standard postoperative care, including routine nursing interventions for pain management, mobility, and nutrition.

Behavioral: Traditional nursing

Interventions

Traditional nursing BEHAVIORAL

After the patient is admitted, the nursing team conducts a comprehensive assessment, including blood glucose, blood pressure, medication history, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, etc., to develop the patient's care plan. Preoperatively, the nursing staff will educate the patient about perioperative knowledge and inform the patient about fasting and withholding fluids 8 hours before the surgery. Postoperatively, the nursing staff closely monitors the patient's vital signs, surgical wounds, and drainage, and provides relevant health education. According to medical orders, the nursing team will guide the patient in appropriate eating and activity, and use medications to address postoperative discomfort.

ERAS nursing group; Traditional nursing group

ERAS protocol BEHAVIORAL

At 0, 2, and 4 hours postoperatively, the nursing team will progressively assess the patient's condition in the order of vital signs, consciousness, nausea and vomiting severity, swallowing function, pain score, and muscle strength. If all the assessment results meet the criteria, the nursing staff will guide the patient to try eating a small amount of liquid food and maintain the head of the bed elevated to a 30-degree angle. At the same time, the nursing staff will guide the patient to follow a progressive activity regimen, starting with sitting up in bed for 3 minutes, then sitting at the bedside for 3 minutes, followed by standing at the bedside for 3 minutes. If there is no discomfort, the patient may walk moderately within the ward.

ERAS nursing group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 75 years, with no gender restrictions;
• Planned for elective thoracoscopic surgery, in good physical condition, able to undergo surgery and anesthesia (ASA classification no more than class III), and confirmed suitable for surgery after joint assessment by the medical and nursing team;
• No severe cognitive impairment or mental illness, able to cooperate with nursing staff and follow intervention measures;
• Normal function of major organs;
• The patient has provided informed consent to participate in the study and signed the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with cognitive impairment, mental illness, or other conditions that may affect the study;
• Requirement to convert to open surgery during the procedure;
• Lung cancer with metastasis to other organs;
• Failure to sign the informed consent form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jianxing He: lead

Study Sites (1)

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Lung Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 13, 2025
• First Posted: November 18, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: September 1, 2025
• Last Updated: November 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)