Comparison of laparoscopic and open colonic resection within fast-track and traditional perioperative care pathways: clinical outcomes and in-hospital costs

Background: This study examined short-term clinical outcomes and in-hospital costs of laparoscopic and open colonic resection within fast-track and traditional care pathways. Material and Methods: A case-control study was performed. From 2007 to 2009, 116 patients underwent laparoscopic or open colonic resection for benign or malignant disease within fast-track care pathway. The control group consisted of 116 age-, sex-, comorbidity-, type of surgery-, and diagnosis-matched patients who received a traditional perioperative care from 2000 to 2007. The main measures of outcome were postoperative hospital stay and in-hospital costs, with 30-day mortality, morbidity, reoperation, and readmission rates as secondary outcomes. Results: The study groups were well balanced for baseline characteristics. Postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the fast-track than in the control group: laparoscopic resection median 3 versus 5days (p<0.001) and open resection 4 versus 7days (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis fast-track care, laparoscopic surgery and complications were independent determinants affecting the length of hospital stay. Overall, there was a trend toward lower in-hospital costs in the fast-track group compared with the traditional care group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Open surgery within fast-track care was the least costly option compared to laparoscopic or open surgery within traditional care but not significantly so when compared with laparoscopy within fast-track care. Intake of solid food and bowel function recovered 1day earlier in the fast-track group than in the control group (p<0.001). Complications were more frequent after open surgery than after laparoscopic surgery (23.3% vs 11.0%, p=0.012). Reoperation and readmission rates were similar between the study groups. Conclusion: Laparoscopy improves the efficiency of fast-track perioperative care without significantly increasing in-hospital costs.