title: Fast-track surgery of the colon in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to present the "fast-track" experience in children who underwent colon resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six children who underwent laparoscopic colon resection were prospectively included in the study. Anomalies of colon innervation and inflammatory bowel disease represented the main surgical indications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left colon/sigmoid resection was performed in 37, total colon resection was done in 5, and right colon resection in 4 children. Total colon resection was always associated to ileostomy. Anastomosis was performed in 41 cases. Patients were postoperatively monitored for pain, return to normal activity, feeding, bowel movements, and complications. Stool passage and oral feeding were started on postoperative day 1, and all patients were discharged before postoperative day 4. One child was readmitted the day after discharge because of an anastomotic leak. No other major complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive surgery is safe and effective in pediatric colonic surgery and allows a fast recovery time (fast-track).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Gaslini Research Institute, University of Genova, Genova, Italy. girolamomattioli@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rapuzzi
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamburini
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DellaRocca
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Disma
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montobbio
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jasonni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies