title: "Fast track" rehabilitation after gastric cancer resection: experience with 80 consecutive cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the safety, efficacy and outcomes of fast-track rehabilitation applied to gastric cancer proximal, distal and total gastrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty consecutive patients undergoing gastric cancer resection performed by a single surgeon, received perioperative multimodal rehabilitation. Demographic and operative data, gastrointestinal function, postoperative hospital stays, surgical and general complications and mortality were assessed prospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 80 patients (mean age 56.3 years), 10 (12.5%) received proximal subtotal gastrectomy (Billroth I), 38 (47.5%) received distal (Billroth II), and 32 (40%) received total gastrectomy (Roux-en-Y). Mean operative time was 104.9 minutes and intraoperative blood loss was 281.9 ml. Time to first flatus was 2.8 ± 0.5 postoperative days. Patients were discharged at a mean of 5.3 ± 2.2 postoperative days; 30-day readmission rate was 3.8%. In-hospital mortality was 0%; general and surgical complications were both 5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fast-track multimodal rehabilitation is feasible and safe in patients undergoing gastric cancer resection and may reduce time to first flatus and postoperative hospital stays.
authors.forename: Jing-xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiao-huang
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zai-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, No, 156 North Xi'erhuan Road, Fuzhou 350025, Fujian, China. fzptwk@126.com.
authors.forename: Lie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome