• A Ehrlich, B Wagner, M Kairaluoma, J-P Mecklin, H Kautiainen, and I Kellokumpu.
• Department of Surgery, Central Finland Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
• Scand J Surg. 2014 Sep 1; 103 (3): 182-188.

Background And AimsFast-track protocols have been used to optimize the perioperative care and to enhance postoperative recovery. This study examined short-term clinical outcomes and determinants affecting the length of postoperative hospital stay.Material And MethodsFrom 2007 to 2009, 180 patients underwent laparoscopic or open bowel resection (N = 138) or sacrocolporectopexy (N = 42) in the Central Hospital of Central Finland for various colorectal diseases in the fast-track setting. The main measures of outcome were time to functional recovery, 30-day morbidity, and readmission rates, with hospital stay and patient satisfaction as secondary outcomes.ResultsThere were no deaths. Time to functional recovery was median 2 (interquartile range 2-3) days. The overall 30-day postoperative morbidity was 14.5% after bowel resection and 0% after sacrocolporectopexy. Relaparotomy rate was 3.6% and 30-day readmission rate 7.2%. Postoperative hospital stay was median 3 days after small bowel and ileo-colic resection, 4 days after segmental colectomy, and 6 days after rectal resection and subtotal colectomy. Patient's body mass index > 30 kg/m2, malignant disease, complexity of surgery, recovery of bowel function later than 2 days after surgery, time to functional recovery > 2 days and postoperative morbidity were patient- and treatment-related determinants increasing postoperative hospital stay. Protocol compliance-related determinants increasing postoperative hospital stay were intake of normal food and mobilization ≥ 6 h/day later than 2 days after surgery and removal of urinary catheter later than 1 day after surgery.ConclusionPostoperative functional recovery was fast, morbidity and readmission rates were low, and postoperative hospital stay short indicating that fast-track care should form the mainstay of elective colorectal surgery.© The Finnish Surgical Society 2014.

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