The effects of fast-track surgery on inflammation and immunity in patients undergoing colorectal surgery

The objective of this study is to explore the effects of the fast-track surgery (FTS) program on inflammation and immunity in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. From August 2014 to March 2015, a prospective and randomized controlled trial of 230 patients who underwent colorectal surgery was performed. The patients were randomly assigned to an FTS group (116 patients) or a traditional group (114 patients). Inflammatory mediators, immunological indicators, postoperative recovery indexes, and complications were compared between the two groups. The inflammatory mediators (CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha) were lower in the FTS group than in the traditional group (P < 0.05) on postoperative day (POD) 1, POD 4, and POD 6, and the immunological indicators (IgG, IgA, C3, C4) of the FTS group were superior to those of the traditional group (P < 0.05) on POD 4 and POD 6. The time to first aerofluxus, defecation, oral intake, and ambulation after surgery was shorter in the FTS group than in the traditional group (P < 0.05); however, the duration of postoperative hospitalization did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). The total complications were significantly lower in the FTS group than in the traditional group (P < 0.05). The FTS program can decrease inflammation, maintain immune homeostasis, and improve rehabilitation effects in colorectal surgery patients.