Preoperative Inspiratory Muscle Training in Esophageal Resection

"The IMT protocol is tailored individually. Inspiratory load is set at 60% of the measured maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax). The load is incrementally increased based on the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scored on a scale from 0 to 10 which is scored by the patient after each training session. When patients score an RPE below 7, patients increase the inspiratory load of the threshold device with 5% to guarantee overload during each training session. Patients have to complete 30 dynamic inspiratory efforts twice daily.~Patients will be instructed to train at home 7 days a week until surgery with a minimum of 2 weeks.~Training will be started after the chemoradiation period (if applicable)."