title: Discharge criteria after colon resection: Is return of bowel function necessary?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was performed to evaluate tolerance of liquids as discharge criteria in a perioperative enhanced recovery protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing elective colon resections were prospectively enrolled in a standardized perioperative enhanced recovery process. Patients were eligible for discharge when able to tolerate sufficient oral liquids, as determined by clinical means, that intravenous fluids were no longer needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over an 18 month period, 94 patients were evaluated; 75 (80%) tolerated sufficient liquids such that intravenous fluids were no longer needed by the second and all by the third postoperative day. The average postoperative length of stay was 3.8 days. At discharge, 59 (63%) and 20 (21%) patients reported passage of flatus and stool respectively. On 30 day follow up, 8 (8.5%) patients had been re-admitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that after elective colon surgery, patients can be discharged when able to tolerate sufficient oral liquids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Permian Basin, 701 West 5th Street. Suite 2263, Odessa, TX, 79763, United States. Electronic address: neal.ellis@ttuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: C Neal
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy; D003672:Defecation; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function
keywords: Colectomy; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Enhanced recovery protocol; Perioperative care