"Fast track" rehabilitation after gastric cancer resection: experience with 80 consecutive cases

Clinical pathway for enhanced recovery after surgery for gastric cancer: A prospective single-center phase II clinical trial for safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a clinical pathway (CP) for enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in gastric cancer patients, including early oral feeding and discharge on postoperative day 4.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, single-center, phase II clinical trial. Based on proposed indications for an ERAS CP in our retrospective study, we enrolled 133 patients younger than 65 years who were undergoing minimally invasive subtotal gastrectomy. The primary endpoint was the ERAS CP completion rate. Secondary endpoints included complication, mortality, hospital stay, and readmission.

RESULTS

Among 133 patients, six patients were dropped out from this study. The ERAS CP completion rate (77.2%, 98 of 127) was comparable to the historical control group that completed a conventional CP (85.4%, P = .085). The postoperative complication incidence (13.4%, 15 of 127) was also similar to that of the conventional CP group (9.5%, P = .174). We identified reduced hospital stays (4.7 ± 1.3 vs 7.2±2.3 days; P < .001) and lower hospital costs ($7771 vs 8539; P < .001) in the ERAS CP group compared with the conventional CP group.

CONCLUSIONS

An ERAS CP can be safely and effectively adopted for patients with gastric cancer without increasing the complication rate and could shorten hospital stays.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01642953).

Application value of enhanced recovery after surgery for total laparoscopic uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after distal gastrectomy

AIM

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for total laparoscopic uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after distal gastrectomy.

METHODS

The clinical data of 42 patients who were divided into an ERAS group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 22) were collected. The observed indicators included operation conditions, postoperative clinical indexes, and postoperative serum stress indexes. Measurement data following a normal distribution are presented as mean ± SD and were analyzed by t-test. Count data were analyzed by χ² test.

RESULTS

The operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and number of patients with conversion to open surgery were not significantly different between the two groups. Postoperative clinical indexes, including the time to initial anal exhaust, time to initial liquid diet intake, time to out-of-bed activity, and duration of hospital stay of patients without complications, were significantly different between the two groups (t = 2.045, 8.685, 2.580, and 4.650, respectively, P < 0.05 for all). However, the time to initial defecation, time to abdominal drainage-tube removal, and the early postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Regarding postoperative complications, on the first and third days after the operation, the white blood cell count (WBC) and C reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative ERAS program for total laparoscopic uncut Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy after distal gastrectomy is safe and effective and should be popularized. Additionally, this program can also reduce the duration of hospital stay and improve the degree of comfort and satisfaction of patients.

The impact of fast track protocols in upper gastrointestinal surgery: A meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

Fast track surgery has been implemented in colorectal procedures during the last decade and is accompanied by significant improvement in patient outcomes during the early postoperative period. However, to date, its adoption in upper gastrointestinal surgery remains a matter of debate. In this context, we aimed to summarize the existing evidence in the international literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched Medline, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register databases for published randomized controlled trials. The meta-analysis was performed with the RevMan 5.3.5 software.

MAIN FINDINGS

Thirty studies were finally included in the present meta-analysis. The post-operative morbidity was not influenced by the implementation of fast track surgery (FTS) (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.64-1.09). However, in cases treated with laparoscopic surgery fast track surgery seemed to reduce morbidity by 50% (p = .006). The overall mortality of patients was low in the majority of included studies and was not influenced by fast track surgery (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.50-2.52). The duration of postoperative hospitalization was significantly reduced with the adoption of FTS (MD -2.24, 95% CI -2.63 to -1.85 days). Concurrently, the overall cost was significantly reduced in cases treated with FTS (MD -982.30, 95% CI -1367.68 to -596.91 U.S dollars).

CONCLUSION

According to the findings of our meta-analysis suggest that FTS seems to be safe in patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery and reduce both the days of postoperative hospitalization and the overall cost. This observation should be taken into account in future recommendations to enhance the implementation of FTS protocols in current clinical practice.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in gastric resections

INTRODUCTION

Enhanced recovery after surgery is a modality of perioperative management with the purpose of improving results and providing a faster recovery of patients. This kind of protocol has been applied frequently in colorectal surgery, presenting less available experience and evidence in gastric surgery.

METHODS

According to the RICA guidelines published in 2015, a review of the bibliography and the consensus established in a multidisciplinary meeting in Zaragoza on the 9th of October 2015, we present a protocol that contains the basic procedures of fast-track for resective gastric surgery.

RESULTS

The measures to be applied are divided in a preoperative, perioperative and postoperative stage. This document provides recommendations concerning the appropriate information, limited fasting and administration of carbohydrate drinks 2hours before surgery, specialized anesthetic strategies, minimal invasive surgery, no routine use of drainages and tubes, mobilization and early oral tolerance during the immediate postoperative period, as well as criteria for discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of a protocol of enhanced recovery after surgery in resective gastric surgery can improve and accelerate the functional recovery of our patients, requiring an appropriate multidisciplinary coordination, the evaluation of obtained results with the application of these measures and the investigation of controversial topics about which we currently have limited evidence.

Effect of guided healthy exercise on rehabilitation in patients with gastric cancer

AIM: To investigate the effect of guided healthy exercise on rehabilitation in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS: One hundred patients receiving surgery for gastric cancer were divided into either an observation group or a control group, with 50 cases in each group. The control group received traditional nursing care, and the observation group received guided healthy exercise. After one month of intervention, depression was assessed using the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton depression scale (HAMA), the awareness of disease condition and attitude to treatment were assessed using the insight treatment attitude questionnaire (ITAQ), and hope levels were assessed using the Herth hope scale (HHS).

RESULTS: After intervention, HAMD and HAMA scores were significantly improved in both groups, and the improvement was more significant in the observation group (t = 6.852, 5.416, P < 0.05). The ITAQ score was also significantly improved in both groups, and the improvement was more significant in the observation group (t = 6.529, P < 0.05). The scores of positive attitude, positive behavior and relationship as well as the total HHS score were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (t = 8.529, 7.031, 12.947, 23.760, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Guided healthy exercise in patients with gastric cancer can not only effectively improve depression and anxiety but also improve the patient's insight and hope.