Summary
Background
We performed this study to investigate the feasibility and clinical and financial benefit of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in elderly patients undergoing colorectal resections.
Methods
Patients over the age of 65 undergoing open colorectal resections at the department of surgery of the Motol University Hospital in Prague between January 2015 and August 2017 were included in the study. Patients who received ERAS perioperative care formed the ERAS group and patients who received standard perioperative care formed the control group. Adherence to the ERAS protocol, hospitalisation length, readmission rate, 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality, and treatment costs were analysed.
Results
Seventy-four patients were included in the ERAS group and sixty-one in the control group. Patient and surgical characteristics were similar in the two groups. An adherence of 83.8% to the ERAS protocol was achieved. Recovery parameters were improved and hospital stay length was shortened, while readmission rate, morbidity and mortality. Although not statistically significant, treatment costs were reduced by an average of €1187 per patient.
Conclusion
We showed that our enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery protocol in elderly patients is feasible, effective, safe and reduces treatment costs.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff of the Department of Surgery of the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital for their devoted care of our patients.
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P. Kocián, A. Whitley, P. Přikryl, M. Bocková, D. Hodyc, B. Čermáková, T. Vymazal and J. Hoch declare that they have no competing interests.
Ethical approval
The study was approved by the institutional ethical board (reference no. EK-760/18).
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Kocián, P., Whitley, A., Přikryl, P. et al. Enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery: the clinical and economic benefit in elderly patients. Eur Surg 51, 183–188 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-019-0595-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-019-0595-8