• Jonas Nygren, Jonatan Hausel, Henrik Kehlet, Arthur Revhaug, Kristoffer Lassen, Cornelius Dejong, Jens Andersen, Maarten von Meyenfeldt, Olle Ljungqvist, and Kenneth Christopher Fearon.
• Centre for Surgical Sciences, Division of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet and Centre of Gastrointestinal Disease, Ersta Hospital, PO Box 4622, 11691 Stockholm, Sweden.
• Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun 1;24(3):455-61.

Background & AimsThis study reviewed the case mix, clinical management, and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing colorectal resection in five European centres performing different forms of conventional or 'fast-track' perioperative care.MethodsThe perioperative care programme and surgical practice in each centre was defined. Patient data were collected by case-note review on an internet-based audit system. Case mix was determined using ASA classification and the P-POSSUM scoring system.ResultsA total of 451 consecutive patients from units practicing either conventional (Sweden, n=109; UK, n=87; Netherlands, n=76, Norway, n=61) or fast-track surgery (Denmark, n=118), were studied between 1998 and 2001. Elements of perioperative practice varied widely both between units practicing 'traditional' care and the reference 'fast-track' unit (Denmark). Based on the P-POSSUM scores, the case mix was similar between centres. There were no differences in morbidity or 30-day mortality between the different centres. The median length of stay was 2 days in Denmark and 7-9 days in the other centres (P<0.05). The readmission rate was 22% in Denmark and 2-16% in the other centres (P<0.05).ConclusionCompared with traditional care, fast-track perioperative care results in a reduced length of hospital stay but may be associated with a higher readmission rate. Morbidity and mortality appears to be similar with either approach. Prospective evaluation of the potential benefits of the fast-track approach in different European centres is merited.

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