• Graham Branagan, Lynn Richardson, Archana Shetty, and Helen S Chave.
• Department of Surgery, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Odstock, Salisbury, Wilts, UK. gbr1911@yahoo.co.uk
• Int J Colorectal Dis. 2010 Nov 1; 25 (11): 1359-62.

PurposeEnhanced Recovery Programmes (ERP) result in shorter hospital stay after colonic resection with no increase in complication, mortality or readmission rates. There is little data regarding the use of an ERP after rectal resection. We investigated the effect of introducing laparoscopic surgery and the ERP on outcomes in our unit.MethodsFrom February 2007, elective patients undergoing rectal resection (laparoscopic or open) under the care of two colorectal surgeons were placed into the ERP. Length of stay (LOS) was recorded as total LOS, including readmissions. Comparison was made with a cohort of patients from 2004-2005 before the onset of laparoscopic surgery/ERP.ResultsForty patients in the ERP group were compared with 42 patients from 2004-2005. Morbidity and mortality rates were similar. LOS was shorter in the ERP group cf. the retrospective group (median 7 days vs. 11 days; p=0.002). Median LOS was shorter in both laparoscopic ERP patients (6 days cf. 11 days; p= 0.004) and open ERP patients (7 days cf. 11 days; p=0.014) cf. the retrospective group.ConclusionPatients having rectal resections benefit from a multimodal approach to surgery with significant reductions in LOS, but no change in morbidity or mortality.

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