Thoracic Surgery LungNCT07232394
Early Feeding and Mobilization in Thoracic Surgery
A study testing Traditional nursing and ERAS protocol in people with Thoracic Surgery Lung and Nursing Cares, run by Jianxing He at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an innovative care assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization following thoracic surgery, based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Thoracic Surgery Lung, Nursing Cares, ERAS
- What is being tested?
- Traditional nursing and ERAS protocol
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 1 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 to 75 years, with no gender restrictions;
- Planned for elective thoracoscopic surgery, in good physical condition, able to undergo surgery and anesthesia (ASA classification no more than class III), and confirmed suitable for surgery after joint assessment by the medical and nursing team;
- No severe cognitive impairment or mental illness, able to cooperate with nursing staff and follow intervention measures;
- Normal function of major organs;
- The patient has provided informed consent to participate in the study and signed the informed consent form.
Who cannot join
- Patients with cognitive impairment, mental illness, or other conditions that may affect the study;
- Requirement to convert to open surgery during the procedure;
- Lung cancer with metastasis to other organs;
- Failure to sign the informed consent form.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
China1 site
The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Early Feeding and Mobilization on Rehabilitation in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an innovative care assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization following thoracic surgery, based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. The aim is to improve postoperative recovery by helping healthcare providers implement a structured, evidence-based plan for early feeding and activity. The study will compare the new care model (ERAS-based) with traditional postoperative care. The investigators will focus on outcomes like recovery quality, complications, hospital stay, and medication use. This research aims to provide solid evidence for integrating early feeding and mobilization into routine thoracic surgery recovery, potentially improving patient comfort, reducing recovery time, and lowering complications.
Read the detailed description
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Surgery, especially for early and intermediate-stage patients, is considered the cornerstone of treatment. With the advancement of minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), the degree of surgical trauma and the risk of complications have significantly decreased. However, despite these innovations, postoperative complications still occur in 30%-40% of patients, indicating that improvements in surgical techniques alone are insufficient to eliminate perioperative risks.
In response, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol has been introduced in thoracic surgery to optimize postoperative recovery. ERAS strategies have shown promising results in reducing complications, pain medication use, and hospital stays. However, most of the clinical evidence supporting ERAS comes from colorectal surgery, with limited research focusing on its application in thoracic surgery. Further validation of its safety, feasibility, and effectiveness in thoracic surgery patients is urgently needed.
One core element of ERAS in thoracic surgery is early postoperative oral feeding. Traditional postoperative management often restricts food and fluids for 4-6 hours to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting caused by residual anesthesia, but this restriction can lead to discomfort from thirst and hunger. Restoring oral intake as early as possible, provided there is no high aspiration risk and vital signs are stable, has been shown to enhance comfort and recovery. However, clinical implementation of early feeding has been suboptimal, and most related studies have focused on gastrointestinal surgeries. Evidence supporting early feeding in thoracic surgery is still lacking.
In addition to early feeding, early mobilization is another key component of ERAS in thoracic surgery. As the ERAS concept evolves, research has increasingly focused on multi-faceted interventions, suggesting that combining early feeding and mobilization could have a synergistic effect in optimizing postoperative outcomes. Despite this potential, high-quality evidence supporting this combined strategy in thoracic surgery is still limited.
Given these challenges, this study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a newly developed, time-point-based nursing assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization after thoracic surgery. This single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial will assess the tool's impact on patient outcomes, including recovery quality, complications, and hospital stay. The ultimate goal is to provide evidence for the clinical adoption and implementation of this tool in thoracic surgery recovery, enhancing patient recovery and contributing to the broader application of ERAS principles in this field.
- Conditions
- Thoracic Surgery Lung, Nursing Cares, ERAS
- Being tested
- Traditional nursing, ERAS protocol
- Keywords
- ERAS, lung cancer, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, nursing care
- Medical subject headings
- Lung Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Traditional nursingBehavioural
After the patient is admitted, the nursing team conducts a comprehensive assessment, including blood glucose, blood pressure, medication history, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, etc., to develop the patient's care plan. Preoperatively, the nursing staff will educate the patient about perioperative knowledge and inform the patient about fasting and withholding fluids 8 hours before the surgery. Postoperatively, the nursing staff closely monitors the patient's vital signs, surgical wounds, and drainage, and provides relevant health education. According to medical orders, the nursing team will guide the patient in appropriate eating and activity, and use medications to address postoperative discomfort.
ERAS protocolBehavioural
At 0, 2, and 4 hours postoperatively, the nursing team will progressively assess the patient's condition in the order of vital signs, consciousness, nausea and vomiting severity, swallowing function, pain score, and muscle strength. If all the assessment results meet the criteria, the nursing staff will guide the patient to try eating a small amount of liquid food and maintain the head of the bed elevated to a 30-degree angle. At the same time, the nursing staff will guide the patient to follow a progressive activity regimen, starting with sitting up in bed for 3 minutes, then sitting at the bedside for 3 minutes, followed by standing at the bedside for 3 minutes. If there is no discomfort, the patient may walk moderately within the ward.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ERAS nursing group | Experimental | The ERAS nursing group implements the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, where the medical team uses developed assessment tools to individualize the timing for each patient's first mobilization and oral intake after surgery. This intervention aims to promote postoperative recovery, reduce postoperative complications, and shorten hospital stays. Receives: Behavioral: Traditional nursing; Behavioral: ERAS protocol |
| Traditional nursing group | Active comparator | The traditional nursing group receives standard postoperative care, including routine nursing interventions for pain management, mobility, and nutrition. Receives: Behavioral: Traditional nursing |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score
The QoR-15 scale is a 15-item questionnaire used to assess the patient's quality of life during the postoperative recovery process, covering aspects such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, physical function, and emotional recovery. The higher the total score, the better the postoperative recovery quality.
Measured: 24 hours post-surgery.
Secondary outcomes (7)
Chest Tube Placement Duration
The chest tube placement duration refers to the number of days from the placement of the chest tube after surgery until its removal.
Measured: Perioperative.
Total Drainage Volume from Chest Tube
The total drainage volume from the chest tube refers to the total amount of fluid drained through the chest tube after surgery.
Measured: Perioperative.
Postoperative Hospitalization Duration
The postoperative hospitalization duration refers to the total number of days the patient remains in the hospital from the completion of surgery until discharge.
Measured: Perioperative.
Postoperative Complications
Postoperative complications refer to any adverse events or symptoms that occur after surgery and may affect the patient's recovery.
Measured: Perioperative.
Total Hospitalization Costs
The total cost of hospitalization includes all medical expenses, such as surgical fees, inpatient care, medication costs, and examination fees.
Measured: Perioperative.
30-Day Readmission Rate
The proportion of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after surgery for any reason.
Measured: Within 30 days post-surgery.
30-Day Mortality Rate
The mortality rate within 30 days after surgery due to any cause.
Measured: Within 30 days post-surgery.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Nov 2025
- Study start1 Jan 2026
- Primary completion1 Jun 2026
- Study completion1 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Thoracic Surgery LungStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Jianxing He
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Jianxing He, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07232394
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ERAS-VATS01
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 27 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Early Feeding and Mobilization on Rehabilitation in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07232394
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ERAS-VATS01
- Conditions
- Thoracic Surgery Lung, Nursing Cares, ERAS
- Keywords
- ERAS, lung cancer, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, nursing care
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Jianxing HeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of an innovative care assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization following thoracic surgery, based on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. The aim is to improve postoperative recovery by helping healthcare providers implement a structured, evidence-based plan for early feeding and activity. The study will compare the new care model (ERAS-based) with traditional postoperative care. The investigators will focus on outcomes like recovery quality, complications, hospital stay, and medication use. This research aims to provide solid evidence for integrating early feeding and mobilization into routine thoracic surgery recovery, potentially improving patient comfort, reducing recovery time, and lowering complications.
Detailed description
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Surgery, especially for early and intermediate-stage patients, is considered the cornerstone of treatment. With the advancement of minimally invasive techniques, such as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), the degree of surgical trauma and the risk of complications have significantly decreased. However, despite these innovations, postoperative complications still occur in 30%-40% of patients, indicating that improvements in surgical techniques alone are insufficient to eliminate perioperative risks.
In response, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol has been introduced in thoracic surgery to optimize postoperative recovery. ERAS strategies have shown promising results in reducing complications, pain medication use, and hospital stays. However, most of the clinical evidence supporting ERAS comes from colorectal surgery, with limited research focusing on its application in thoracic surgery. Further validation of its safety, feasibility, and effectiveness in thoracic surgery patients is urgently needed.
One core element of ERAS in thoracic surgery is early postoperative oral feeding. Traditional postoperative management often restricts food and fluids for 4-6 hours to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting caused by residual anesthesia, but this restriction can lead to discomfort from thirst and hunger. Restoring oral intake as early as possible, provided there is no high aspiration risk and vital signs are stable, has been shown to enhance comfort and recovery. However, clinical implementation of early feeding has been suboptimal, and most related studies have focused on gastrointestinal surgeries. Evidence supporting early feeding in thoracic surgery is still lacking.
In addition to early feeding, early mobilization is another key component of ERAS in thoracic surgery. As the ERAS concept evolves, research has increasingly focused on multi-faceted interventions, suggesting that combining early feeding and mobilization could have a synergistic effect in optimizing postoperative outcomes. Despite this potential, high-quality evidence supporting this combined strategy in thoracic surgery is still limited.
Given these challenges, this study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a newly developed, time-point-based nursing assessment tool for early feeding and mobilization after thoracic surgery. This single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled trial will assess the tool's impact on patient outcomes, including recovery quality, complications, and hospital stay. The ultimate goal is to provide evidence for the clinical adoption and implementation of this tool in thoracic surgery recovery, enhancing patient recovery and contributing to the broader application of ERAS principles in this field.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ERAS nursing group | Experimental | Behavioral: Traditional nursing, Behavioral: ERAS protocolThe ERAS nursing group implements the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, where the medical team uses developed assessment tools to individualize the timing for each patient's first mobilization and oral intake after surgery. This intervention aims to promote postoperative recovery, reduce postoperative complications, and shorten hospital stays. |
| Traditional nursing group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Traditional nursingThe traditional nursing group receives standard postoperative care, including routine nursing interventions for pain management, mobility, and nutrition. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged 18 to 75 years, with no gender restrictions;
- Planned for elective thoracoscopic surgery, in good physical condition, able to undergo surgery and anesthesia (ASA classification no more than class III), and confirmed suitable for surgery after joint assessment by the medical and nursing team;
- No severe cognitive impairment or mental illness, able to cooperate with nursing staff and follow intervention measures;
- Normal function of major organs;
- The patient has provided informed consent to participate in the study and signed the informed consent form.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients with cognitive impairment, mental illness, or other conditions that may affect the study;
- Requirement to convert to open surgery during the procedure;
- Lung cancer with metastasis to other organs;
- Failure to sign the informed consent form.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional nursingAfter the patient is admitted, the nursing team conducts a comprehensive assessment, including blood glucose, blood pressure, medication history, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, etc., to develop the patient's care plan. Preoperatively, the nursing staff will educate the patient about perioperative knowledge and inform the patient about fasting and withholding fluids 8 hours before the surgery. Postoperatively, the nursing staff closely monitors the patient's vital signs, surgical wounds, and drainage, and provides relevant health education. According to medical orders, the nursing team will guide the patient in appropriate eating and activity, and use medications to address postoperative discomfort. | Behavioural | ERAS nursing group, Traditional nursing group |
| ERAS protocolAt 0, 2, and 4 hours postoperatively, the nursing team will progressively assess the patient's condition in the order of vital signs, consciousness, nausea and vomiting severity, swallowing function, pain score, and muscle strength. If all the assessment results meet the criteria, the nursing staff will guide the patient to try eating a small amount of liquid food and maintain the head of the bed elevated to a 30-degree angle. At the same time, the nursing staff will guide the patient to follow a progressive activity regimen, starting with sitting up in bed for 3 minutes, then sitting at the bedside for 3 minutes, followed by standing at the bedside for 3 minutes. If there is no discomfort, the patient may walk moderately within the ward. | Behavioural | ERAS nursing group |
Primary outcome
The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score
Time frame: 24 hours post-surgery.
The QoR-15 scale is a 15-item questionnaire used to assess the patient's quality of life during the postoperative recovery process, covering aspects such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, physical function, and emotional recovery. The higher the total score, the better the postoperative recovery quality.
7 secondary outcomes
Chest Tube Placement Duration
Time frame: Perioperative.
Total Drainage Volume from Chest Tube
Time frame: Perioperative.
Postoperative Hospitalization Duration
Time frame: Perioperative.
Postoperative Complications
Time frame: Perioperative.
Total Hospitalization Costs
Time frame: Perioperative.
30-Day Readmission Rate
Time frame: Within 30 days post-surgery.
30-Day Mortality Rate
Time frame: Within 30 days post-surgery.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Traditional nursing and ERAS protocol in people with Thoracic Surgery Lung and Nursing Cares, run by Jianxing He at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score (time frame: 24 hours post-surgery.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Oct 2026.