Early recovery after abdominal rectopexy with multimodal rehabilitation

PURPOSE: Abdominal rectopexy without sigmoid resection is usually associated with a hospital stay of four to ten days. Recent developments have shown that a multimodal rehabilitation program with epidural analgesia and early oral feeding and mobilization will reduce hospital stay after colonic resection. The aim of this study was to describe the results after abdominal rectopexy with a multimodal rehabilitation program. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients with rectal prolapse, median age 69 (range, 24-85) years and including 14 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status III to IV, were scheduled for abdominal rectopexy with a multimodal rehabilitation program including 48 hours thoracic epidural analgesia or patient-controlled anesthesia (3 patients), early oral nutrition and mobilization, and a planned two-day postoperative hospital stay. Follow-up was done at two months postoperatively. RESULTS: All patients except one tolerated normal diet and were mobilized to the same level as before surgery on the first postoperative day. Bowel movement was reestablished at a median of Day 2, and median postoperative hospital stay was three (mean, 4.4) days. At two months follow-up 16 percent were incontinent vs. 74 percent before surgery. Constipation was noted in 43 percent before surgery vs. 28 percent at two months follow-up. CONCLUSION: Median hospital stay after abdominal rectopexy may be reduced to three days with postoperative multimodal rehabilitation.