Background: The present study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of a two-day hospital stay after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LCR) under an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway.
Methods: Between 2003 and 2010, 882 consecutive patients undergoing LCR were analyzed. Patients were grouped and analyzed according to whether their hospital stay was 2 days (group A) or longer (group B). Demographic, surgical, and postoperative data were compared. To identify independent predictive factors related to a short hospital stay, a multivariate analysis was also performed.
Results: Group A represented 10.3 % of this series (91 patients). There were no differences regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA, and previous abdominal surgeries between groups. Group A had a lower incidence of rectal cancer and anterior resections than group B (6.6 vs. 17.7 % [p = 0.006] and 14.3 vs. 23.4 % [p = 0.048]), respectively, and a lower mean operative time (170 min vs. 192 min; p = 0.002). Group A had a lower overall morbidity rate than group B (5.5 vs. 16.9 %; p = 0.004) and a lower incidence of surgery-related complications (5.5 vs. 14.9 %; p = 0.001). The overall conversion rate was 10 % (only one patient in group A required conversion), and the difference in conversion rate between groups was statistically significant (1.2 vs. 10.7 %; p = 0.003). Group A had a lower readmission rate (0 vs. 4.9 %; p = 0.089). Multivariate analysis showed that conversion, postoperative morbidity, and rectal prolapse were independently associated with the length of hospital stay.
Conclusions: A two-day hospital stay after LCR is safe and feasible under an ERAS pathway, without compromising the readmission or complication rate.