In predefined subgroup analyses , findings did not vary by surgical approach ( open vs laparoscopic ) or colorectal condition .
CONCLUSIONS : Enhanced recovery protocol s for adults undergoing colorectal surgery improve patient outcomes with no increase in adverse events .
Evidence was insufficient regarding which components , or component combinations , are key to improving patient outcomes .
BACKGROUND : Enhanced surgical recovery protocol s are design ed to reduce hospital length of stay and health care costs .
OBJECTIVE : This study aims to systematic ally review and summarize evidence from r and omized and controlled clinical trials comparing enhanced recovery protocol s versus usual care in  adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery with emphasis on recent trials , protocol components , and subgroups for surgical approach and colorectal condition .
Fast track rehabilitation programme enhances functional recovery after laparoscopic colonic resection.
BACKGROUND / AIMS Fast track ( IT ) rehabilitation programmes have demonstrated advantages over traditional perioperative care after open colonic surgery ; however . their contribution in recovery after laparoscopic colonic surgery is not clearly defined . This study was conducted to estimate the value of FT rehabilitation programme in laparoscopic colonic resections . METHODOLOGY This is a r and omized prospect i ve controlled clinical trial . Ninety-nine consecutive patients underwent elective laparoscopic colonic resection between February 2008 and March 2009 . Forty-nine patients received FT multimodal rehabilitation programme as FT group and 50 patients underwent traditional perioperative care as non-FT group . Postoperative hospital stay , return of gastrointestinal function , postoperative complications were recorded . RESULTS Postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the FT group , a median duration of 4.0 days versus 5.0 days in the non-FT group ( p<0.01 ) . Gastrointestinal functional recovery occurred 1 day earlier in FT group ( passage of flatus after 2.0 days vs. 3.0 days , p<0.01 ) . There were no significant differences in complications within 30 postoperative days ( 12 % in FT group vs. 20 % in non-FT group , p=0.295 ) . CONCLUSIONS When applied after laparoscopic colonic surgery , FT rehabilitation programme is feasible , safe and may lead to accelerated functional recovery and reductions in postoperative hospital stay
In predefined subgroup analyses , findings did not vary by surgical approach ( open vs laparoscopic ) or colorectal condition .
CONCLUSIONS : Enhanced recovery protocol s for adults undergoing colorectal surgery improve patient outcomes with no increase in adverse events .
Evidence was insufficient regarding which components , or component combinations , are key to improving patient outcomes .
BACKGROUND : Enhanced surgical recovery protocol s are design ed to reduce hospital length of stay and health care costs .
OBJECTIVE : This study aims to systematic ally review and summarize evidence from r and omized and controlled clinical trials comparing enhanced recovery protocol s versus usual care in  adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery with emphasis on recent trials , protocol components , and subgroups for surgical approach and colorectal condition .