Enhancing Surgical Outcomes: The Role of Prehabilitation
Postoperative complications after larger surgeries occur in 15 to 40% of patients and affect morbidity, mortality, the length of hospital stays and costs. Especially, the frail, elderly, and obese patients with a low cardiopulmonary reserve are at risk. Preoperative exercising for 3 to 6 weeks before surgery can boost the aerobic capacity and make patients more resistant to complications. Prehabilitation, which includes physical activity, optimized nutrition, and mental well-being amongst others, can contribute to patients readiness for surgery, reduce complication rates and optimize outcomes.
capreolos – Pioneering in digital prehabilitation with the groundbreaking Prep4Surg App
We have years of experience with providing patient care, research and designing innovative digital health solutions. Through our clinical practice and research work we recognized the need for a remote digital prehabilitation program that would help the patients and their doctors to be better prepared for surgeries.
The growing digital movement in healthcare gives a way for innovative solutions in all fields of medicine. We strongly believe that patient-oriented digital solutions make any healthcare system more efficient and its users happier and better off.
Easy handling. 6 steps to improved surgical outcomes
Step 1
Patient registration and data capture
A doctor or a medical assistant registers a new patient in the Prep4Surg app and captures basic patient data such as age, BMI, and gender. Subsequently, further relevant scores such as ECOG, TUG, RAI score, hemoglobin, resting heart rate, and heart rate-changing medication will be collected to define the initial risk assessment.
Step 2
Calculation of the Prep4Surg risk score and data transmission
Based on the collected data, the patient’s Prep4Surg risk score is calculated. All data, including the Prep4Surg risk score, is securely transmitted to the central cloud server to generate a risk dashboard and prepare the training program.
Step 3
Setting Up the Training Program in the Patient App
The patient gets access to the Prep4Surg app and is guided through the setup of their training program. This includes answering a quality-of-life questionnaire, performing the 6-minute walking test, and establishing a weekly exercise plan.
Step 4
Execution of the Training Program
The patient performs exercises at home according to the training program, monitored by the smartwatch. The smartwatch provides instructions based on baseline data to ensure the patient trains within the optimal heart rate range.
Step 5
Transmission of Training Data and Symptom Evaluation
After each training session, the smartwatch transmits the training data to the central cloud server. The patient also evaluates their symptoms in the app. This data is used for analysis and feedback. The doctor regularly reviews the patient’s progress in the doctor app and is notified through a push notification if the patient regularly misses their exercises or exceeds the set heart rate range.
Step 6
Doctor’s re-evaluation and program success measurement
The doctor perform a second risk assessment to compare initial data with post-prehab data.
Patient Progress Tracking
Change of risk tracking
Personalized training and nutritional plans
Real-time progress tracking, expert support and outcome measures
Testimonials
Prof. Dr. Patrick Starlinger
MD, PhD I Associate Professor of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester I Senior Associate Consultant, Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester I Adjunct Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna I Associate Professor of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna
„The Prep4Surg App“ from Capreolos driven by the R&D team of Prof. Schnitzbauer would close a critical gap to assure and further improve prehabilitation of patients treated at destination practices around the globe – such as Mayo Clinic. This would enable a new dimension of improving patients outcomes in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, particularly in high risk patients.“
DanielaRappold
ERAS Nurse, HPB Surgery, Austria
„With digital prehabilitation tools, patients can actively prepare for their surgery, customized to their needs. Patients take an active role in the treatment pathway even before surgery, which helps healthcare professionals to provide them with the best possible support and patient-centered healthcare.“
Prof. Dr. med. Jürgen Graf
Ärztlicher Direktor und Vorstandsvorsitzender der Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt
„The concept of the Prep4Surg app is something special. It goes along with what we strive for at the University Medical Center Frankfurt, namely taking advantage of the chances and opportunities digital technology offers to benefit both employees and patients. That’s why I’m happy to support a start-up so that the idea subsequently leads to an application and a product!“
