Evaluation of a fast-track protocol for patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Fast-track protocols have been used to optimize the perioperative care and to enhance postoperative recovery. This study examined short-term clinical outcomes and determinants affecting the length of postoperative hospital stay.


METHODS
From 2007 to 2009, 180 patients underwent laparoscopic or open bowel resection (N = 138) or sacrocolporectopexy (N = 42) in the Central Hospital of Central Finland for various colorectal diseases in the fast-track setting. The main measures of outcome were time to functional recovery, 30-day morbidity, and readmission rates, with hospital stay and patient satisfaction as secondary outcomes.


RESULTS
There were no deaths. Time to functional recovery was median 2 (interquartile range 2-3) days. The overall 30-day postoperative morbidity was 14.5% after bowel resection and 0% after sacrocolporectopexy. Relaparotomy rate was 3.6% and 30-day readmission rate 7.2%. Postoperative hospital stay was median 3 days after small bowel and ileo-colic resection, 4 days after segmental colectomy, and 6 days after rectal resection and subtotal colectomy. Patient's body mass index > 30 kg/m2, malignant disease, complexity of surgery, recovery of bowel function later than 2 days after surgery, time to functional recovery > 2 days and postoperative morbidity were patient- and treatment-related determinants increasing postoperative hospital stay. Protocol compliance-related determinants increasing postoperative hospital stay were intake of normal food and mobilization ≥ 6 h/day later than 2 days after surgery and removal of urinary catheter later than 1 day after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative functional recovery was fast, morbidity and readmission rates were low, and postoperative hospital stay short indicating that fast-track care should form the mainstay of elective colorectal surgery.
Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
A
A
Ehrlich
Department of Anesthesiology, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
B
B
Wagner
Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
M
M
Kairaluoma
Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
J-P
JP
Mecklin
Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
H
H
Kautiainen
Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland ilmo.kellokumpu@ksshp.fi.
I
I
Kellokumpu
Colorectal; fast-track surgery; laparoscopy