["Fast-track" and elective, laparoscopic colo-rectal surgery]

The aim of this prospective clinical evaluation was to investigate the influence of "Fast-track"-treatment in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal operations and its effect on morbidity, hospital stay and recovery.

Bowel cleaning under enteral hypercaloric nutrition (Biosorb Energie, Fa. Nutricia, Germany) was achieved with Fleet (Ferring Arzneimittel, Germany) one day prior to surgery. A peridural catheter was placed preoperatively. Intraoperative electrolyte substitution should not exceed 12 ml/kg KG/h. In case of decreasing intraoperative blood pressure hydroxyethylstarch 6% was substituted. The nasogastric tube was removed immediately after the operation, the urinary catheter was removed on the first postoperative day. The patients stayed on the intermediate care department for one night and started already there with oral feeding and mobilisation (for 2 h). The following days mobilisation increased to 4 h daily under normal enteral nutrition without infusions.

Between June 2003 and January 2006, 147 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were included in this study. Diverticulitis (n = 114), malignant tumors of the sigmoid colon (n = 6) or rectal cancer (n = 13), colonic adenomas (n = 5), stenotic Crohn's disease (n = 4) and small bowel carcinoid (n = 1), rectal prolaps (n = 1) and elongated colon sigmoideum (n = 4) were indications for surgical treatment. Laparoscopic sigmoid resection (n = 117), left hemicolectomy (n = 11), ileocecal resection (n = 8), anterior resection with total mesorectal excision (n = 9), abdomino-perineal exstirpation (n = 1) and anterior-segmental resection of the rectum (n = 1) were performed. Drainages were removed on the 2nd, peridural catheter on the 3rd postoperative day. Defecation occurred in all patients until the 2 (nd) postop. day. Early postoperative complication rate was 15% (22/147 patients) without mortality. 8 patients (5%) with anastomotic leakage were reoperated. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. The re-admission rate was 3% (4/147 patients) and included one patient with anastomotic leakage.

"Fast-track"-treatment in combination with minimal-invasive surgery is a safe and comfortable perioperative treatment for patients with elective colorectal operations.