Background: Laparoscopic colorectal resection improves patient outcome by reducing pain, postoperative pulmonary dysfunction, gastrointestinal paralysis, and fatigue. A multimodal rehabilitation program ("fast-track") with epidural analgesia, early oral feeding, and enforced mobilization may further improve the excellent results of laparoscopic colorectal resection, enabling early ambulation of these patients.
Methods: Fifty two consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with standardized regular perioperative treatment (standard) or multimodal rehabilitation program ("fast-track"). Outcome measures included pulmonary function, duration of postoperative ileus, pain perception, fatigue, morbidity, and mortality.
Results: Twenty nine standard-care patients (19 men and 10 women) and 23 fast-track patients (15 men and eight women) were evaluated. Demographic and operative data were similar for the two groups. On the 1st postoperative day, pulmonary function was improved (p = 0.01) in fast-track patients. Oral feeding was achieved earlier (p < 0.01) and defecation occurred earlier (p < 0.01) in the fast-track group. Visual analogue scale scores for pain were similar for the two groups (p > 0.05), but fatigue was increased in the standard-care group on the 1st (p = 0.06) and 2nd (p < 0.05) postoperative days. Morbidity was not different for the two groups. Fast-track patients were discharged on day 4 (range, 3-6) and standard-care patients on day 7 (range, 4-14) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Multimodal rehabilitation can improve further on the excellent results of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and decrease the postoperative hospital stay.