A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether preoperative physiotherapy/pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial for patients undergoing lung resection. Ten papers were identified using the reported search, of which five represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. In 2007 a report showed in 13 subjects receiving a preoperative rehabilitation programme (PRP) an improvement of maximum oxygen uptake consumption (VO2max) of an average 2.4 ml/kg/min (95% confidence interval 1 to 3.8; p = 0.002). A report in 2008 showed in 12 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and VO2max < 15 ml/kg/min that PRP could effect a mean improvement in VO2max of 2.8 ml/kg/min (p < 0.001). An earlier report in 2005 demonstrated a reduced length of hospital stay (21 +/- 7 days versus 29 +/- 9 days; p = 0.0003) in 22 subjects who underwent PRP for two weeks compared with a historical control of 60 patients with COPD. It was shown in 2006 that by using a cross-sectional design with historical controls that one day of chest physiotherapy comprising inspiratory and peripheral muscle training compared with routine nursing care was associated with a lower atelectasis rate (2% versus 7.7%) and a median length of stay that was 5.73 days versus 8.33 days (p < 0.0001). A prospective randomised controlled study in 1997, showed that two weeks of PRP followed by two months of postoperative rehabilitation produced a better predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second in the study group than in the control group at three months (lobectomy +570 ml versus -70 ml; pneumonectomy +680 ml versus -110 ml). We conclude that preoperative physiotherapy improves exercise capacity and preserves pulmonary function following surgery. Whether these benefits translate into a reduction in postoperative pulmonary complication is uncertain.

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