Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of lung protective ventilation combined with perioperative breathing exercises on postoperative prognosis of frail elderly patients with colorectal cancer.Methods From January 2021 to June 2023, a total of 92 frail elderly patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were enrolled at the First People's Hospital of Neijiang. Patients were assigned to control and experimental groups by drawing lots, with 46 cases in each group. The control group received conventional ventilation modes, while the experimental group received lung protective ventilation combined with perioperative breathing exercises. Comparisons were made between the two groups on respiratory mechanics indicators [peak airway pressure (Ppeak), mean airway pressure (Pmean), and compliance of lung (CL)] before pneumoperitoneum (T1), 1 hour after pneumoperitoneum (T2), and before extubation (T3), and on oxygenation indicators [pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2), partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2), and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P(A-a)DO2) ] before anesthesia induction (T0), at T2, and 10 minutes after tracheal tube removal (T4). Serum levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, and postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, hypoxemia, respiratory failure, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism) were also compared between the two groups.Results The Ppeak, Pmean, and CL at T1, T2 and T3 in the two groups were compared, which exhibited that they were different among the time points (P < 0.05) and between the two groups. The experimental group had lower Ppeak and Pmean and higher CL at T2 and T3 compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in the change trends of Ppeak and Pmean between the groups (P > 0.05), but significant differences in the change trends of CL were found between the groups (P < 0.05). Comparison of SpO2, PaO2 and P(A-a)DO2 at T0, T2 and T4 in the two groups revealed that they were different among the time points (P < 0.05) and between the groups (P < 0.05). The SpO2 and PaO2 at T2 and T4 were higher and P(A-a)DO2 at T2 and T4 was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in the change trends of SpO2 and PaO2 between the groups (P > 0.05), but significant differences in the change trends of P(A-a)DO2 were found between the groups (P < 0.05). The SP-A levels before surgery, 1 d and 7 d after surgery in the two groups were compared, suggesting that they were different among the time points (P < 0.05) and between the groups (P <0.05). SP-A levels 1 d and 7 d after surgery were significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group. There were significant differences in the change trends of SP-A levels between the groups (P < 0.05). The differences in scores of symptoms, activity level, and disease impact scores before and after treatment in the experimental groups were greater than those in the control groups (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of complications was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusions Lung protective ventilation combined with perioperative breathing exercises effectively reduces the incidence of pulmonary complications, improves respiratory mechanics and oxygenation indicators, and enhances the postoperative quality of life for frail elderly patients with colorectal cancer. This approach holds significant value for the perioperative management of such patients.