Fast-track rehabilitation after rectal cancer resection

Background and aims: After rectal cancer surgery, postoperative general complications occur in 25-35% of all patients and postoperative hospital stay is 14-21 days. "Fast-track" rehabilitation has been shown to accelerate recovery, reduce general morbidity and decrease hospital stay after elective colonic surgery. Because the feasibility of "fast-track" rehabilitation in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery has not been demonstrated yet, we demonstrate our initial results of "fast-track" rectal cancer surgery. Patients and methods: Seventy consecutive unselected patients undergoing rectal cancer resection by one surgeon underwent a perioperative "fast-track" rehabilitation. Demographic and operative data, pulmonary function, pain and fatigue, local and general complications and mortality were assessed prospectively. Results and findings: Thirty-six female and 34 male patients aged 65 (34-77) years underwent open (n=31) or laparoscopic (n=39) anterior resection with partial mesorectal excision (PME 27), anterior resection with total mesorectal excision and protective loop ileostomy (TME 29) or abdominoperineal excision with colostomy (APR 14). Overall, pulmonary function returned to > 80% of preoperative value on day 2 (1-4) and the first bowel movement occurred on day 1 (0-3) after surgery. The incidence of local and general complications was 27 and 18%, respectively. Postoperative hospital stay was 8 (3-50) days overall, but shorter after PME [5 (3-47)] than TME [10 (5-42)] or APR [9 (5-50)] (p < 0.01). Interpretation and conclusion: "Fast-track" rehabilitation was feasible in patients undergoing rectal cancer resection. Local morbidity was not increased, while general morbidity and postoperative hospital stay compared favourably to other series with "traditional" perioperative care.