Enhanced Recovery Program in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: an Observational Controlled Trial

Background: A few randomized clinical trials and meta-analysis provide evidence for enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) in colorectal surgery. Most of the evidence, however, relies on non-randomized controlled studies that have control groups being either historical or operated on at different facilities. The aim of this study was to compare a prospective series of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery according to ERPs, with a coeval retrospective series of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in a different ward at the same hospital.
The primary outcome was hospital length of stay, which was used as a proxy of functional recovery. Secondary outcomes included: postoperative complications, readmission rate, mortality, and adherence to the protocol.
Materials and Methods: A prospective series of consecutive patients (N = 100) undergoing elective colorectal resection completing a standardized ERP in 2013-2015 (ERP Group) will be compared to patients (N = 100) operated at the same institution in the same period with a traditional perioperative care protocol (Non-ERP group). Despite different surgeons and ward nurses, the two groups shared the same anaesthesiologists and were located in separate wards. The exclusion criteria were: >80 years old, ASA score of IV, a stage IV TNM, and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease.