Fast-track surgcry for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension: a comparative study

Objective To study the effect of a fast-track surgery (FTS) program on the clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.Methods 42 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension were randomly allocated into the FTS group (n=21) and the conventional therapy control group (n=21).The postoperative time to first defecation,hospital stay,hospitalization cost,and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the postoperative time to first defecation was significantly shorter in the FTS group (P=0.0287).Furthermore,the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the FTS group than the control group (P=0.002).Additionally,hospitalization cost was significantly lower in the FTS group than the control group (P＜0.001).The postoperative complication was also significantly different between the two groups (7.15 ％ vs 21.5 ％,P=0.001).Conclusion A FTS program contributed to better postoperative rehabilitation in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Key words: Liver cirrhosis; Portal hypertension; Fast-track surgery; Complication