Clinical use of fast-track surgery in colorectal cancer patients:report of 116 cases

Abstract

To investigate the efficacy and safety of fast-track surgery(FTS) in patients with colorectal cancer. One hundred and sixteen patients with colorectal cancer underwent colorectal operation between June 2006 and May 2008. FTS procedures were used in these patients during the study period. Data were retrospectively analyzed pertaining to post-operative hospital stay and operative complications. The median postoperative hospital stay was (5.6+/-5.4)(range 1-54) d. Fourteen patients(12.1%) had postoperative complications, in which the rate of anastomotic leakage and wound infection was 1.7% and 2.6% respectively. 30-day readmission rate was 1.7%, and the 30-day mortality was 0.9%. Fast-track surgery is feasible in an unselected patient population undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection without compromising surgical outcomes.