title: Fast track clinical pathway implications in esophagogastrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of fast track clinical pathway for esophageal tumor resections.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent esophagogastrectomy from January 2006 to October 2007 in our department were studied. Fast track clinical pathway included analgesia control, fluid infusion volume control, early ambulation and enteral nutrition. Nasogastric tube was removed 3 d after operation and chest tube was removed 4 d after operation as a routine, and full liquid diet 5 d after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 114 patients (84 men and 30 women), 26 patients underwent fast track surgery, including 17 patients over 65 years old and 9 under 65 (P=0.014); 18 patients who had preoperative complications could not bear fast track surgery (P<0.001). No significant differences in tolerance of fast track surgery were attributed to differences in gender, differentiated degree or stage of tumor, pathological type of tumor, or operative incision. The median length of hospital stay was 7 d (5-28 d), 4% patients were readmitted to hospital within 30 d of discharge. Three patients died and postoperative mortality was 2.6%. All 3 patients had no determinacy to fast track surgery approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of patients with esophageal carcinoma can tolerate fast track surgery. Patients younger than 65 or who have no preoperative diseases have the best results. Median length of hospital stay has been reduced to 7 d.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. kkkj_77@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000698:Analgesia; D000758:Anesthesia; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology