Abstract
Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend not only on good surgery and tumor biology but also on an optimal perioperative care. The enhanced recovery program (ERP) - a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach, or so called 'fast-track surgery' - has been designed to minimize perioperative and intraoperative stress responses, and to support the recovery of organ function aiming to help patients getting better sooner after surgery. Compared with conventional postoperative care, the enhanced recovery program results in quicker patient recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. Although not firmly established as yet, the enhanced recovery program after surgery could be of oncological benefit in colorectal cancer patients because it can enhance recovery, maintain integrity of the postoperative immune system, increase feasibility of postoperative chemotherapy, and shorten the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy. This commentary summarizes short-term outcomes and potential long-term benefits of enhanced recovery programs in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Highlights
Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend on good surgery and tumor biology, and on an optimal perioperative care
Not firmly established as yet, the enhanced recovery program after surgery could be of oncological benefit in colorectal cancer patients because it can enhance recovery, maintain integrity of the postoperative immune system, increase feasibility of postoperative chemotherapy, and shorten the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy
With a conventional care, patients undergoing an operation for colorectal cancer could require 3-6 months to revert to their baseline for functional capacity and health-related quality of life (Hung et al, 2013)
Summary
Surgical outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment depend on good surgery and tumor biology, and on an optimal perioperative care. Using multimodal strategies and multidisciplinary team approach, an enhanced recovery program (ERP), or known as an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol or a fast-track surgery, has been designed to minimize perioperative and intraoperative stress responses, and to support the recovery of organ function aiming to help patients getting better sooner after surgery. With a conventional care, patients undergoing an operation for colorectal cancer (with or without adjuvant chemotherapy) could require 3-6 months to revert to their baseline for functional capacity and health-related quality of life (Hung et al, 2013)
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