Fast track open ileo-colic resections for Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE

Introduction of multimodal rehabilitation programmes after open colonic surgery for noninflammatory bowel disease has reduced hospital stay to about 2-3 days, but no data are available from open ileo-colic surgery for Crohn's disease with multimodal rehabilitation regimens. Therefore, the aim of study was to assess outcome after ileo-colic resections for Crohn's disease with multimodal rehabilitation.

METHODS

Thirty-two consecutive ileo-colic resections for Crohn's disease in 29 patients received epidural analgesia and enforced postoperative oral nutrition and mobilization with a scheduled stay of 2 days.

RESULTS

Median time to defaecation was 2.5 days and postoperative hospital stay was 3 days. During a 30-day postoperative follow-up there was two re-admissions, one for mechanical bowel obstruction (9 days) and one because of fever and vomiting (6 days). Except for one wound abscess, one cystitis and one pneumonia, no other complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Fast-track multimodal rehabilitation in open ileo-colic resections for Crohn's disease reduces hospital stay and with low morbidity and readmission rate.