Application of enhanced rehabilitation program in colorectal cancer surgery

Abstract

Objective To assess efficacy and safety of enhanced rehabilitation program for patients with colorectal cancer surgery. Methods One hundred and ten consecutive patients admitted to general surgery department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital during October 2007 to October 2009 undergone with fasttrack colorectal cancer surgery and enhanced rehabilitation were prospectively studied, with 117 patients undergone with same colorectal cancer surgery by traditional perioperative treatment during May 2005 to September 2007 as controls. Restoration of their gastrointestinal function, occurrence of complications, fatality and length of hospital stay after surgical operation were observed in the group of enhanced rehabilitation and control group. Results Demographic characteristics, stage classification of illness and surgical operation methods were comparable in both groups. The first day with air discharge from the flux was earlier in enhanced rehabilitation group than that in controls (2. 5 vs. 3. 5 day after surgery, P ＜ 0. 05 ), and the former could tolerate solid food earlier than the latter (6.0 vs. 6.7 days after surgery, P=0.028). Overall morbidity of complications was less in the group with enhanced rehabilitation than that in controls (23.6% vs. 39. 3%,P =0. 011 ) and shorter length of hospital stay was observed in the former than that in the latter (9. 0 vs. 10. 8 days after surgery, P =0. 041 ). There was no difference in mortality, incidence of anastomotic leakage, and infectious and non-infectious complications between the two groups. Conclusions Enhanced rehabilitation program is safe and effective following colorectal cancer surgery to accelerate restoration of gastrointestinal function, reduce complications and shorten hospital stay after colorectal cancer surgery. Key words: Colorectal surgery; Enhanced-recovery programmes; Gastrointestinal function; Complications