BACKGROUND: Despite the evidence that fast-track concepts in colon surgery lead to an enhanced recovery rate, there is no information on the prevalence and utilization of such programs in Germany. METHODS: Based on a conventional sigmoid resection, we asked 1,270 surgical departments in Germany to describe their standard surgical procedures in a questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 385 (30.31%). A total of 96% use a bowel preparation, 83% a vertical incision, 10% use a nasogastric decompression for longer then 1 day, 34% avoid intra-abdominal drains, 51% allow clear fluids on the day of surgery, 13% offer solid food on the first day after surgery, 75% use epidural analgesia and 47% discharge the patients by the seventh day after surgery. CONCLUSION: Although there is an evident benefit using fast-track concepts, they are not yet in wide use as a standard procedure. Further efforts have to be made to ensure that the majority of patients will benefit from these concepts.
BACKGROUND: Despite the evidence that fast-track concepts in colon surgery lead to an enhanced recovery rate, there is no information on the prevalence and utilization of such programs in Germany. METHODS: Based on a conventional sigmoid resection, we asked 1,270 surgical departments in Germany to describe their standard surgical procedures in a questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 385 (30.31%). A total of 96% use a bowel preparation, 83% a vertical incision, 10% use a nasogastric decompression for longer then 1 day, 34% avoid intra-abdominal drains, 51% allow clear fluids on the day of surgery, 13% offer solid food on the first day after surgery, 75% use epidural analgesia and 47% discharge the patients by the seventh day after surgery. CONCLUSION: Although there is an evident benefit using fast-track concepts, they are not yet in wide use as a standard procedure. Further efforts have to be made to ensure that the majority of patients will benefit from these concepts.
Authors: Massarat Zutshi; Conor P Delaney; Anthony J Senagore; Nagy Mekhail; Brenda Lewis; Jason T Connor; Victor W Fazio Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 2.565
Authors: Brian M Block; Spencer S Liu; Andrew J Rowlingson; Anne R Cowan; John A Cowan; Christopher L Wu Journal: JAMA Date: 2003-11-12 Impact factor: 56.272
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