Propensity Score Analysis of an Enhanced Recovery Programme in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Management

Background:

• Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer surgery presents complex challenges.
• Enhanced recovery programmes (ERP) aim to optimize patient outcomes post-surgery.
• The impact of ERP on UGI cancer surgery outcomes requires rigorous evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the influence of an enhanced recovery programme (ERP) on outcomes in upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer surgery.
• To analyze the effectiveness of ERP using a propensity score-matched analysis.
• To identify factors associated with length of hospital stay (LOHS) in UGI cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 300 UGI cancer patients before and after ERP implementation.
• Propensity score-matched analysis to control for confounding variables.
• Multivariable regression models to determine associations between ERP and LOHS.

Main Results:

• A cohort of 252 patients (160 ERP, 92 control) was analyzed after matching.
• ERP showed no significant difference in operative morbidity or mortality compared to controls.
• ERP significantly reduced median critical care and total length of hospital stay (LOS).

Conclusions:

• Enhanced recovery programmes (ERP) are feasible and safe for UGI cancer surgery.
• ERP demonstrates effectiveness in reducing length of hospital stay (LOS).
• ERP represents a valuable approach to improving patient recovery in UGI cancer care.