Optimizing perioperative management of patients undergoing colorectal surgery: what is new?

This review highlights recent developments in individual perioperative interventions in colorectal surgery, and progress in so-called fast-track or enhanced-recovery programmes.

A new survey from five northern European countries has revealed that best clinical practice in perioperative care, based on previously published high-grade evidence, is only partially in use in daily clinical practice. Recently, a number of trials contrasting clinical results in enhanced-recovery protocols versus traditional care clearly show that such protocols indeed enhance recovery, although effects on morbidity are less obvious. Further evidence supporting preoperative oral carbohydrate treatment, avoidance of oral bowel preparation and wound drainage in elective colonic surgery and avoidance of intraoperative fluid excess has emerged. The oral opioid antagonist alvimopan has recently been shown to limit postoperative gastrointestinal paralysis. The role of laparoscopic surgery in the era of enhanced-recovery programmes is unclear.

There is strong evidence on how to enhance recovery after colorectal surgery, but many interventions are not utilized in daily practice. Further evidence has emerged supporting several perioperative treatments, and successful experiences of enhanced-recovery programmes have now been reported from several centres.