Recent advances in postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (Review)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ~85% of lung cancer cases and has high morbidity and mortality rates. Over the past decade, treatment strategies for NSCLC have progressed rapidly, particularly with the increasing use of screening programs, leading to improvements in the initial diagnosis and treatment of early-stage and preinvasive tumors. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment for early-stage NSCLC. Thoracoscopic lobectomy has become the main treatment for early-stage NSCLC, as it results in less postoperative bleeding and pain and fewer complications. However, the complication rate for thoracoscopic lobectomy due to sputum retention and weakened respiratory muscle strength remains as high as 19-59%. Treating NSCLC remains challenging in terms of postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation. In the present review, recent advances in postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with NSCLC were presented in order to assist researchers in developing improved treatments to enhance postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation for such patients.