[A survey of perioperative therapy for elective colon resection in Germany, 2006].
BACKGROUND
Despite the evidence that fast-track concepts in colon surgery lead to an enhanced recovery rate, there is no information on the prevalence and utilization of such programs in Germany.


METHODS
Based on a conventional sigmoid resection, we asked 1,270 surgical departments in Germany to describe their standard surgical procedures in a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The response rate was 385 (30.31%). A total of 96% use a bowel preparation, 83% a vertical incision, 10% use a nasogastric decompression for longer then 1 day, 34% avoid intra-abdominal drains, 51% allow clear fluids on the day of surgery, 13% offer solid food on the first day after surgery, 75% use epidural analgesia and 47% discharge the patients by the seventh day after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Although there is an evident benefit using fast-track concepts, they are not yet in wide use as a standard procedure. Further efforts have to be made to ensure that the majority of patients will benefit from these concepts.
Hasenberg
T
T
Chirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. till.hasenberg@chir.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Rittler
P
P
Post
S
S
Jauch
K W
KW
Senkal
M
M
Spies
C
C
Schwenk
W
W
Shang
E
E
D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires