Best evidence summary of exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Practitioners should be cautious when applying exercise rehabilitation evidence to patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, as specific data for this population are lacking.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the slu-pp-332 (exercise mimetic) corpusSummary and findings
This study evaluates and summarizes existing evidence regarding exercise rehabilitation for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. A total of 15 articles were selected, including six randomized controlled trials. The findings emphasize the cautious use of extrapolated evidence when specific data for pancreaticoduodenectomy are lacking.
Abstract
<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate and summarize existing evidence regarding exercise rehabilitation for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy to inform the development of evidence-based clinical practice.<h4>Methods</h4>According to the "6S" evidence pyramid model, evidence on exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy was retrieved, including clinical decisions, guidelines, evidence summaries, best practices and recommended practices, expert consensus, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and high-quality randomized controlled trials. Searches covered major domestic and international databases as well as professional websites, with literature collected up to 8 January 2026. Two independent researchers evaluated the quality of the literature and extracted and summarized the included evidence.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 15 articles were selected, including one clinical decision, four guidelines, one expert consensus, three systematic reviews and six randomized controlled trials. Thirty-five pieces of evidence were summarized in nine areas: exercise purpose, multidisciplinary team formulation, health education, exercise assessment, exercise preparation, exercise timing, exercise type, exercise parameters, and exercise supervision.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study summarizes the latest evidence on exercise rehabilitation for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, while emphasizing the cautious use of extrapolated evidence when pancreaticoduodenectomy-specific data are lacking. Prior to applying the evidence, specific safety issues for these patients should be fully considered, and interventions should be tailored to individual needs and preferences. Future research should prioritize high-quality randomized controlled trials on exercise rehabilitation in this population to generate direct evidence and thereby refine exercise rehabilitation programs.<h4>Systematic review registration</h4>This study was registered at the Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing (Registration No. ES20244076).
Background
This paper addresses the clinical question of how exercise rehabilitation can benefit patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. Prior to this study, there was limited synthesis of evidence on this topic, making it difficult for practitioners to develop evidence-based practices. The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview to inform clinical decision-making.
Methods
The study utilized the '6S' evidence pyramid model to retrieve evidence on exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. Searches were conducted across major domestic and international databases and professional websites, with literature collected up to 8 January 2026. Two independent researchers evaluated the quality of the literature and summarized the evidence.
Results
Fifteen articles were selected, which included six randomized controlled trials. The study summarized thirty-five pieces of evidence across nine areas related to exercise rehabilitation.
Interpretation
The findings highlight the importance of tailoring exercise rehabilitation programs to individual patient needs, particularly in the context of pancreaticoduodenectomy. While the evidence is comprehensive, the reliance on extrapolated data from other populations limits the conclusions that can be drawn. This suggests a need for further research specifically targeting this patient group.
Key findings
- A total of 15 articles were selected, including one clinical decision, four guidelines, one expert consensus, three systematic reviews and six randomized controlled trials.
- Thirty-five pieces of evidence were summarized in nine areas: exercise purpose, multidisciplinary team formulation, health education, exercise assessment, exercise preparation, exercise timing, exercise type, exercise parameters, and exercise supervision.
Limitations
- Not all evidence was specific to pancreaticoduodenectomy patients.
- The study emphasizes the cautious use of extrapolated evidence.
- Future research should prioritize high-quality randomized controlled trials.