human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Background Elderly patients often are regarded as high-risk for major abdominal surgery because of a lack of functional reserve and associated medical comorbidities . The goal of this study was to compare the cost of care and short-term outcomes of elderly and nonelderly patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy .  Our hypothesis was that elderly patients managed with  laparoscopic colorectal surgery and an enhanced recovery protocol ( ERP ) can realize the same benefits of lower hospital length of stay ( LOS ) without increasing hospital costs or readmission rates . Methods Review of a prospect i ve data base identified all patients that underwent an elective laparoscopic colectomy from 2009 to 2012 . Patients were stratified into elderly ( ≥70 years old ) and nonelderly ( < 70 years old ) cohorts . The main outcome measures were discharge disposition , hospital costs , hospital LOS , and 30-day readmission rates between the laparoscopic and open groups . Results A total of 302 nonelderly ( 66 % ) and 153 elderly ( 34 % ) patients were included in the analysis . The elderly cohort had significantly higher comorbidities than the nonelderly group . There were no mortalities . Operative variables ( procedure time , blood loss , and intraoperative complications ) were similar . At discharge , significantly more elderly patients required temporary nursing or home care . There were no significant differences in short-term outcomes of LOS , 30-day readmission rates , or costs for the episode of care between the two groups . Conclusions Combining laparoscopic colectomy with an ERP is cost-effective and results in similar short-term outcomes for the elderly and nonelderly patients . Despite higher comorbidities , elderly patients realized the same benefits of shorter LOS with similar hospital costs and readmission rates BACKGROUND Perioperative treatment of patients with colorectal cancer according to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ( ERAS ) protocol has proven to reduce complications and duration of stay . However , strict adherence remains a challenge and the benefits may decrease with lower adherence . In this study , we report on 8 years of adherence to the ERAS protocol and its effect on postoperative outcome in patients with colon cancer . METHODS In 2006 , the ERAS protocol was introduced for treatment of colon cancer patients in the Medical Center Alkmaar , a large teaching hospital . Patients scheduled for elective colon cancer resection were included in this study . Adherence to ERAS items was monitored and along with clinical data prospect ively gathered in a data base . In 2011 , several measures to improve adherence were implemented . RESULTS In total , 816 patients were included .  Mean adherence rate was 73 % in 2006 and 2007 , 66 % in 2008 and 2009 , 63 % in 2010 and 2011 , and 82 % in 2012 and 2013 . There was a shorter duration of stay in the years with high adherence ( 5.7 days ) compared with the years with low adherence ( 7.3 days ; P < .001 ) . The ERAS items that were the strongest predictors for a shorter duration of stay were no nasogastric tube , early mobilization , early oral nutrition , early removal of epidural , early removal of catheter , and nonopioid oral analgesia . CONCLUSION It is possible to improve adherence to the ERAS protocol and related outcomes with specific measures . Adherence to the ERAS protocol was related inversely to duration of stay . Only postoperative items of the ERAS protocol were predictive for a shorter duration of stay . Keeping adherence optimal remains an ongoing challenge that requires repeated training and dedicated personnel BACKGROUND Studies have shown the value of using fast-track postoperative recovery . St and ard procedures ( non-fast-track strategies ) remain in common use for perioperative care . Few prospect i ve reports exist on the outcome of fast-tracking in Central Europe . The aim of our study was to assess the effect and safety of our own fast-track protocol with regard to the postoperative period after open bowel resection . PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred and five patients with ASA score I-II scheduled for open intestinal resection in the period April 2005-December 2007 were r and omly selected for the fast-track group ( FT ) and non-fast-track group ( non-FT ) . A design ed protocol was used in the FT group with the emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach . The control group ( non-FT ) was treated by st and ard established procedures .  Postoperative pain , rehabilitation , gastrointestinal functions , postoperative complications , and post-op length of stay were recorded . RESULTS Of 105 patients , 103 were statistically analyzed . Patients in the FT group ( n=51 ) and non-FT group ( n=52 ) did not differ in age , surgical diagnosis , or procedure . The fast-track procedure led to significantly better control of postoperative pain and faster restoration of GI functions ( bowel movement after 1.3 days vs. 3.1 , p<0.001 ) . Food tolerance was significantly better in the FT group and rehabilitation was also faster . Hospital stay was shorter in the FT group - median seven days ( 95 % CI 7.0 - 7.7 ) versus ten days ( 95 % CI 9.5 - 11.3 ) in non-FT ( p<0.001 ) . Postoperative complications within 30 postoperative days were also significantly lower in the FT group ( 21.6 vs. 48.1 % , p=0.003 ) . There were no deaths and no patients were readmitted within 30 days . CONCLUSIONS Following the FT protocol helped to reduce frequency of postoperative complications and reduced hospital stay . We conclude that the FT strategy is safe and effective in improving postoperative outcomes OBJECTIVES To study the impact of different adherence levels to the enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) protocol and the effect of various ERAS elements on outcomes following major surgery . DESIGN Single-center prospect i ve cohort study before and after reinforcement of an ERAS protocol . Comparisons were made both between and across periods using multivariate logistic regression . All clinical data ( 114 variables ) were prospect ively recorded . SETTING Ersta Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden . PATIENTS Nine hundred fifty-three consecutive patients with colorectal cancer : 464 patients treated in 2002 to 2004 and 489 in 2005 to 2007 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between improved adherence to the ERAS protocol and the incidence of postoperative symptoms , complications , and length of stay following major colorectal cancer surgery was analyzed . RESULTS Following an overall increase in preoperative and perioperative adherence to the ERAS protocol from 43.3 % in 2002 to 2004 to 70.6 % in 2005 to 2007 , both postoperative complications ( odds ratio , 0.73 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.55 - 0.98 ) and symptoms ( odds ratio , 0.53 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.40 - 0.70 ) declined significantly . Restriction of intravenous fluid and use of a preoperative carbohydrate drink were major independent predictors . Across periods , the proportion of adverse postoperative outcomes ( 30-day morbidity , symptoms , and readmissions ) was significantly reduced with increasing adherence to the ERAS protocol ( > 70 % , > 80 % , and > 90 % ) compared with low ERAS adherence ( < 50 % ) . CONCLUSION Improved adherence to the st and ardized multimodal ERAS protocol is significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes following major colorectal cancer surgery , indicating a dose-response relationship BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determine the impact of an intrathecal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine , when compared with systemic morphine , on the quality of postoperative analgesia and other outcomes in the context of the enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) programme for laparoscopic colonic resection . METHODS Fifty patients undergoing general anaesthesia were r and omly allocated  to receive either a spinal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine followed by oral oxycodone ( spinal group ) or patient-controlled analgesia ( PCA group ) . The primary outcome was consumption of opioids during the first three postoperative days . Secondary outcomes were pain scores , return of bowel function and dietary intake , readiness to hospital discharge , and length of hospital stay . RESULTS Postoperative opioid consumption in the spinal group was significantly less over the first three postoperative days ( P<0.001 ) . The quality of analgesia at rest in the first 24 h was better in the spinal group ( P<0.005 ) . Excessive sedation and respiratory depression were reported in two elderly patients with spinal analgesia . There were no differences between the two groups in other outcomes ( return of bowel function and dietary intake , readiness to hospital discharge , and length of hospital stay ) . CONCLUSIONS When ERAS programme is used for laparoscopic colonic resection , an intrathecal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine was associated with less postoperative opioid consumption , but has no other advantages over systemic opioids The aim of this trial was to compare  multimodal optimization  with  conventional perioperative management  in a consecutive series of patients undergoing a wide range of colorectal procedures BACKGROUND Minimally invasive , laparoscopically assisted surgery was first considered in 1990 for patients undergoing colectomy for cancer . Concern that this approach would compromise survival by failing to achieve a proper oncologic resection or adequate staging or by altering patterns of recurrence ( based on frequent reports of tumor recurrences within surgical wounds ) prompted a controlled trial evaluation . METHODS We conducted a noninferiority trial at 48 institutions and r and omly assigned 872 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon to undergo open or laparoscopically assisted colectomy performed by credentialed surgeons . The median follow-up was 4.4 years . The primary end point was the time to tumor recurrence . RESULTS At three years , the rates of recurrence were similar in the two groups--16 percent among patients in the group that underwent laparoscopically assisted surgery and 18 percent among patients in the open-colectomy group ( two-sided P=0.32 ; hazard ratio for recurrence , 0.86 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.63 to 1.17 ) . Recurrence rates in surgical wounds were less than 1 percent in both groups ( P=0.50 ) . The overall survival rate at three years was also very similar in the two groups ( 86 percent in the laparoscopic-surgery group and 85 percent in the open-colectomy group ; P=0.51 ; hazard ratio for death in the laparoscopic-surgery group , 0.91 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.68 to 1.21 ) , with no significant difference between groups in the time to recurrence or overall survival for patients with any stage of cancer . Perioperative recovery was faster in the laparoscopic-surgery group than in the open-colectomy group , as reflected by a shorter median hospital stay ( five days vs. six days , P<0.001 ) and briefer use of parenteral narcotics ( three days vs. four days , P<0.001 ) and oral analgesics ( one day vs. two days , P=0.02 ) . The rates of intraoperative complications , 30-day postoperative mortality , complications at discharge and 60 days , hospital readmission , and reoperation were very similar between groups . CONCLUSIONS In this multi-institutional study , the rates of recurrent cancer were similar after laparoscopically assisted colectomy and open colectomy , suggesting that the laparoscopic approach is an acceptable alternative to open surgery for colon cancer Background Fast-track protocol s are followed by an enhanced recovery , early return to bowel function and to complete nutrition , and a reduced hospital stay . Our study was design ed to implement fast-track protocol in our university hospital . Methods The 96 consecutive patients with colorectal neoplasm included in the study were r and omized in two equal groups : group 1 ( FT ) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a fast-track protocol , and group 2 ( C ) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery with a conventional care protocol .  As with other fast-track protocol s , our protocol included carbohydrate fluids load before operation , early mobilization and oral feeding , regular prokinetics , and multimodal postoperative analgesia .  Time to restoration of bowel function , to complete mobilization and feeding , length of hospital stay , and incidence of complications and readmissions were monitored . Results Time to mobilization , restoring of bowel function , and complete oral feeding were significantly shorter with fast-track protocol ( p = 0.001 , p = 0.042 , and p = 0.01 , respectively ) . Hospital stay also was shorter in the fast-track group ( p = 0.001 ) . The incidence of complications did not significantly differ with the study groups . Conclusions In our study , fast-track protocol result ed in a shorter time to mobilization , complete feeding , and discharge from hospital . Fast-track protocol did not increase the incidence of complications . However , we consider that our data require further confirmation with powered multicenter national studies Background and aims Evidence demonstrating improved short-term outcomes with laparoscopic surgery compared with open surgery for colorectal cancer is accumulating . In addition , programmes optimising peri-operative care for major abdominal surgery are becoming widespread . Evaluating laparoscopic surg 
    Output:
    
agent
Reduced protocol compliance was the most frequently identified modifiable predictive factor for adverse LOS , morbidity and readmission .
Conclusion Protocol compliance is the most frequently reported predictive factor for outcomes of ERAS programmes following laparoscopic colorectal resection .
Reduced compliance increases LOS , morbidity and readmission to hospital .
The impact of compliance with individual ERAS protocol elements is insufficiently studied , and the lack of a st and ardised framework for evaluating ERAS programmes makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions about which factors exert the greatest impact on outcome after laparoscopic colorectal resection
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: Background Elderly patients often are regarded as high-risk for major abdominal surgery because of a lack of functional reserve and associated medical comorbidities . The goal of this study was to compare the cost of care and short-term outcomes of elderly and nonelderly patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy .  Our hypothesis was that elderly patients managed with  laparoscopic colorectal surgery and an enhanced recovery protocol ( ERP ) can realize the same benefits of lower hospital length of stay ( LOS ) without increasing hospital costs or readmission rates . Methods Review of a prospect i ve data base identified all patients that underwent an elective laparoscopic colectomy from 2009 to 2012 . Patients were stratified into elderly ( ≥70 years old ) and nonelderly ( < 70 years old ) cohorts . The main outcome measures were discharge disposition , hospital costs , hospital LOS , and 30-day readmission rates between the laparoscopic and open groups . Results A total of 302 nonelderly ( 66 % ) and 153 elderly ( 34 % ) patients were included in the analysis . The elderly cohort had significantly higher comorbidities than the nonelderly group . There were no mortalities . Operative variables ( procedure time , blood loss , and intraoperative complications ) were similar . At discharge , significantly more elderly patients required temporary nursing or home care . There were no significant differences in short-term outcomes of LOS , 30-day readmission rates , or costs for the episode of care between the two groups . Conclusions Combining laparoscopic colectomy with an ERP is cost-effective and results in similar short-term outcomes for the elderly and nonelderly patients . Despite higher comorbidities , elderly patients realized the same benefits of shorter LOS with similar hospital costs and readmission rates BACKGROUND Perioperative treatment of patients with colorectal cancer according to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ( ERAS ) protocol has proven to reduce complications and duration of stay . However , strict adherence remains a challenge and the benefits may decrease with lower adherence . In this study , we report on 8 years of adherence to the ERAS protocol and its effect on postoperative outcome in patients with colon cancer . METHODS In 2006 , the ERAS protocol was introduced for treatment of colon cancer patients in the Medical Center Alkmaar , a large teaching hospital . Patients scheduled for elective colon cancer resection were included in this study . Adherence to ERAS items was monitored and along with clinical data prospect ively gathered in a data base . In 2011 , several measures to improve adherence were implemented . RESULTS In total , 816 patients were included .  Mean adherence rate was 73 % in 2006 and 2007 , 66 % in 2008 and 2009 , 63 % in 2010 and 2011 , and 82 % in 2012 and 2013 . There was a shorter duration of stay in the years with high adherence ( 5.7 days ) compared with the years with low adherence ( 7.3 days ; P < .001 ) . The ERAS items that were the strongest predictors for a shorter duration of stay were no nasogastric tube , early mobilization , early oral nutrition , early removal of epidural , early removal of catheter , and nonopioid oral analgesia . CONCLUSION It is possible to improve adherence to the ERAS protocol and related outcomes with specific measures . Adherence to the ERAS protocol was related inversely to duration of stay . Only postoperative items of the ERAS protocol were predictive for a shorter duration of stay . Keeping adherence optimal remains an ongoing challenge that requires repeated training and dedicated personnel BACKGROUND Studies have shown the value of using fast-track postoperative recovery . St and ard procedures ( non-fast-track strategies ) remain in common use for perioperative care . Few prospect i ve reports exist on the outcome of fast-tracking in Central Europe . The aim of our study was to assess the effect and safety of our own fast-track protocol with regard to the postoperative period after open bowel resection . PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred and five patients with ASA score I-II scheduled for open intestinal resection in the period April 2005-December 2007 were r and omly selected for the fast-track group ( FT ) and non-fast-track group ( non-FT ) . A design ed protocol was used in the FT group with the emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach . The control group ( non-FT ) was treated by st and ard established procedures .  Postoperative pain , rehabilitation , gastrointestinal functions , postoperative complications , and post-op length of stay were recorded . RESULTS Of 105 patients , 103 were statistically analyzed . Patients in the FT group ( n=51 ) and non-FT group ( n=52 ) did not differ in age , surgical diagnosis , or procedure . The fast-track procedure led to significantly better control of postoperative pain and faster restoration of GI functions ( bowel movement after 1.3 days vs. 3.1 , p<0.001 ) . Food tolerance was significantly better in the FT group and rehabilitation was also faster . Hospital stay was shorter in the FT group - median seven days ( 95 % CI 7.0 - 7.7 ) versus ten days ( 95 % CI 9.5 - 11.3 ) in non-FT ( p<0.001 ) . Postoperative complications within 30 postoperative days were also significantly lower in the FT group ( 21.6 vs. 48.1 % , p=0.003 ) . There were no deaths and no patients were readmitted within 30 days . CONCLUSIONS Following the FT protocol helped to reduce frequency of postoperative complications and reduced hospital stay . We conclude that the FT strategy is safe and effective in improving postoperative outcomes OBJECTIVES To study the impact of different adherence levels to the enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) protocol and the effect of various ERAS elements on outcomes following major surgery . DESIGN Single-center prospect i ve cohort study before and after reinforcement of an ERAS protocol . Comparisons were made both between and across periods using multivariate logistic regression . All clinical data ( 114 variables ) were prospect ively recorded . SETTING Ersta Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden . PATIENTS Nine hundred fifty-three consecutive patients with colorectal cancer : 464 patients treated in 2002 to 2004 and 489 in 2005 to 2007 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between improved adherence to the ERAS protocol and the incidence of postoperative symptoms , complications , and length of stay following major colorectal cancer surgery was analyzed . RESULTS Following an overall increase in preoperative and perioperative adherence to the ERAS protocol from 43.3 % in 2002 to 2004 to 70.6 % in 2005 to 2007 , both postoperative complications ( odds ratio , 0.73 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.55 - 0.98 ) and symptoms ( odds ratio , 0.53 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.40 - 0.70 ) declined significantly . Restriction of intravenous fluid and use of a preoperative carbohydrate drink were major independent predictors . Across periods , the proportion of adverse postoperative outcomes ( 30-day morbidity , symptoms , and readmissions ) was significantly reduced with increasing adherence to the ERAS protocol ( > 70 % , > 80 % , and > 90 % ) compared with low ERAS adherence ( < 50 % ) . CONCLUSION Improved adherence to the st and ardized multimodal ERAS protocol is significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes following major colorectal cancer surgery , indicating a dose-response relationship BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determine the impact of an intrathecal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine , when compared with systemic morphine , on the quality of postoperative analgesia and other outcomes in the context of the enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) programme for laparoscopic colonic resection . METHODS Fifty patients undergoing general anaesthesia were r and omly allocated  to receive either a spinal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine followed by oral oxycodone ( spinal group ) or patient-controlled analgesia ( PCA group ) . The primary outcome was consumption of opioids during the first three postoperative days . Secondary outcomes were pain scores , return of bowel function and dietary intake , readiness to hospital discharge , and length of hospital stay . RESULTS Postoperative opioid consumption in the spinal group was significantly less over the first three postoperative days ( P<0.001 ) . The quality of analgesia at rest in the first 24 h was better in the spinal group ( P<0.005 ) . Excessive sedation and respiratory depression were reported in two elderly patients with spinal analgesia . There were no differences between the two groups in other outcomes ( return of bowel function and dietary intake , readiness to hospital discharge , and length of hospital stay ) . CONCLUSIONS When ERAS programme is used for laparoscopic colonic resection , an intrathecal mixture of bupivacaine and morphine was associated with less postoperative opioid consumption , but has no other advantages over systemic opioids The aim of this trial was to compare  multimodal optimization  with  conventional perioperative management  in a consecutive series of patients undergoing a wide range of colorectal procedures BACKGROUND Minimally invasive , laparoscopically assisted surgery was first considered in 1990 for patients undergoing colectomy for cancer . Concern that this approach would compromise survival by failing to achieve a proper oncologic resection or adequate staging or by altering patterns of recurrence ( based on frequent reports of tumor recurrences within surgical wounds ) prompted a controlled trial evaluation . METHODS We conducted a noninferiority trial at 48 institutions and r and omly assigned 872 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon to undergo open or laparoscopically assisted colectomy performed by credentialed surgeons . The median follow-up was 4.4 years . The primary end point was the time to tumor recurrence . RESULTS At three years , the rates of recurrence were similar in the two groups--16 percent among patients in the group that underwent laparoscopically assisted surgery and 18 percent among patients in the open-colectomy group ( two-sided P=0.32 ; hazard ratio for recurrence , 0.86 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.63 to 1.17 ) . Recurrence rates in surgical wounds were less than 1 percent in both groups ( P=0.50 ) . The overall survival rate at three years was also very similar in the two groups ( 86 percent in the laparoscopic-surgery group and 85 percent in the open-colectomy group ; P=0.51 ; hazard ratio for death in the laparoscopic-surgery group , 0.91 ; 95 percent confidence interval , 0.68 to 1.21 ) , with no significant difference between groups in the time to recurrence or overall survival for patients with any stage of cancer . Perioperative recovery was faster in the laparoscopic-surgery group than in the open-colectomy group , as reflected by a shorter median hospital stay ( five days vs. six days , P<0.001 ) and briefer use of parenteral narcotics ( three days vs. four days , P<0.001 ) and oral analgesics ( one day vs. two days , P=0.02 ) . The rates of intraoperative complications , 30-day postoperative mortality , complications at discharge and 60 days , hospital readmission , and reoperation were very similar between groups . CONCLUSIONS In this multi-institutional study , the rates of recurrent cancer were similar after laparoscopically assisted colectomy and open colectomy , suggesting that the laparoscopic approach is an acceptable alternative to open surgery for colon cancer Background Fast-track protocol s are followed by an enhanced recovery , early return to bowel function and to complete nutrition , and a reduced hospital stay . Our study was design ed to implement fast-track protocol in our university hospital . Methods The 96 consecutive patients with colorectal neoplasm included in the study were r and omized in two equal groups : group 1 ( FT ) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a fast-track protocol , and group 2 ( C ) included patients undergoing colorectal surgery with a conventional care protocol .  As with other fast-track protocol s , our protocol included carbohydrate fluids load before operation , early mobilization and oral feeding , regular prokinetics , and multimodal postoperative analgesia .  Time to restoration of bowel function , to complete mobilization and feeding , length of hospital stay , and incidence of complications and readmissions were monitored . Results Time to mobilization , restoring of bowel function , and complete oral feeding were significantly shorter with fast-track protocol ( p = 0.001 , p = 0.042 , and p = 0.01 , respectively ) . Hospital stay also was shorter in the fast-track group ( p = 0.001 ) . The incidence of complications did not significantly differ with the study groups . Conclusions In our study , fast-track protocol result ed in a shorter time to mobilization , complete feeding , and discharge from hospital . Fast-track protocol did not increase the incidence of complications . However , we consider that our data require further confirmation with powered multicenter national studies Background and aims Evidence demonstrating improved short-term outcomes with laparoscopic surgery compared with open surgery for colorectal cancer is accumulating . In addition , programmes optimising peri-operative care for major abdominal surgery are becoming widespread . Evaluating laparoscopic surg 
    Output:
    