title: Systematic review of enhanced recovery programmes in colonic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fast track (FT) programmes optimize perioperative care in an attempt to accelerate recovery, reduce morbidity and shorten hospital stay. The aim of this review was to assess FT programmes for elective segmental colonic resections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was performed of all randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials on FT colonic surgery. The main endpoints were number of applied FT elements, hospital stay, readmission rate, morbidity and mortality. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed independently by three observers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six papers were eligible for analysis (three randomized controlled and three controlled clinical trials), including 512 patients. FT programmes contained a mean of nine (range four to 12) of the 17 FT elements as defined in the literature. Primary hospital stay (weighted mean difference - 1.56 days, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) - 2.61 to - 0.50 days) and morbidity (relative risk 0.54, 95 per cent c.i. 0.42 to 0.69) were significantly lower for FT programmes. Readmission rates were not significantly different (relative risk 1.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.73 to 1.86). No increase in mortality was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FT appears to be safe and shortens hospital stay after elective colorectal surgery. However, as the evidence is limited, a multicentre randomized trial seems justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wind
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Polle
authors.forename: P H P
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Fung Kon Jin
authors.forename: C H C
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Dejong
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: von Meyenfeldt
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Ubbink
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gouma
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bemelman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D003289:Convalescence; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome