Endurance training alone was found to increase both lower extremity strength and endurance capacity .
Colorectal cancer surgery results in considerable postoperative morbidity , mortality and reduced quality of life .
As many patients will undergo additional (neo)adjuvant therapy , it is imperative that each individual optimize their physical function .
To eluci date the potential of exercise in patient optimization , we investigated the evidence for an exercise program before and after surgical treatment in colorectal cancer patients .
Abnormal vital signs are common after bowel resection and do not predict anastomotic leak.
BACKGROUND Anastomotic  leak is a serious complication of gastrointestinal surgery . Abnormal vital signs are often cited in retrospective peer review and medicolegal setting s as evidence of negligence in the failure to make an early diagnosis . We aim ed to profile the postoperative courses of patients who undergo intestinal anastomosis and determine how reliably abnormal vital signs predict anastomotic leaks . STUDY DESIGN Consecutive patients undergoing bowel resection with anastomosis at an academic medical center from July 2009 through July 2011 were identified from a prospect i ve complication data base . The electronic medical record was queried for postoperative vital signs and laboratory studies , which were digitally abstract ed . Abnormal values were defined as temperature > 38 ° C , white blood cell count ≤4,000 or ≥12,000 cells/uL , systolic blood pressure ≤80 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≤50 mmHg , pulse ≥100 beats per minute , and respiratory rate ≥20 breaths per minute . Patients who developed an anastomotic leak were compared with those with an uncomplicated postoperative course . RESULTS Of the 452 patients , 141 ( 31.2 % ) suffered a total of 271 complications , including 19 anastomotic leaks . Even in " uncomplicated " recoveries , tachycardia and tachypnea were almost routine , occurring in more than half of the patients frequently throughout the postoperative period . Hypotension , fever , and leukocytosis were also remarkably common . The positive predictive value of any aberrant vital sign or white blood cell count ranged between 4 % and 11 % . CONCLUSIONS Abnormal vital signs are extremely common after bowel resection with anastomosis . Even sustained aberrant vital signs and /or leukocytosis are not necessarily suggestive of a leak or other postoperative complication
Endurance training alone was found to increase both lower extremity strength and endurance capacity .
Colorectal cancer surgery results in considerable postoperative morbidity , mortality and reduced quality of life .
As many patients will undergo additional (neo)adjuvant therapy , it is imperative that each individual optimize their physical function .
To eluci date the potential of exercise in patient optimization , we investigated the evidence for an exercise program before and after surgical treatment in colorectal cancer patients .