To investigate the clinical outcomes of perioperative management guided by the idea of fast track surgery in colorectal cancer.

A controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2011 to October 2012 in the department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xuzhou Hospital, Medical College of Southeast University.A total of 100 patients with colorectal cancer who would undergo elective operation were randomly divided into two groups: a fast-track group(50 cases)and a conventional treatment group(50 cases). Clinical parameters, markers of nutrition and postoperative complications were recorded and evaluated in both groups postoperatively.

Ninety three patients eventually completed the study, 43 cases in fast-track group and 50 cases in conventional treatment group.As compared to the conventional treatment group, the first postoperative time of flatus of fast-track group was significantly shorter in the fast-track group[(55.5±16.7)h vs.(69.3±20.1)h, P<0.01], as were the first passage of stool[(66.1±10.4)h vs.(79.1±16.4)h, P<0.01]and the length of stay[(7.7±2.1)d vs.(9.6±2.7)d, P<0.05]. The levels of albumin and prealbumin were significant higher in the fast-track group as compared to the conventional treatment group on postoperative day 5.The patients of fast-track group felt less pain after operations.The differences of anastomotic leakage, pulmonary infection, urinary tract infection, wound infection and diarrhea were not statistically significant between the two groups(P>0.05).

Perioperative management guided by the idea of fast track surgery in colorectal cancer was safe and effective, can effectively reduce the pain, promote the intestinal function recovery, improve the nutritional status and reduce the time in hospital.