title: Fast-track surgery-an update on physiological care principles to enhance recovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concept of fast-track surgery (enhanced recovery programs) has been evolved and been documented to be successful by decreasing length of stay, morbidity and convalescence across procedures.
  However, there are several possibilities for further improvement of most of the components of fast-track surgery, where surgical stress, fluid and pain management are key factors. There is an urgent need for better design of studies, especially in minimal invasive surgery to achieve maximal outcome effects when integrated into the fast-track methodology.
authors.affiliation: Section for Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. henrik.kehlet@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehlet
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D003289:Convalescence; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D045823:Ileus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007902:Length of Stay; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control