Unselected rectal cancer patients undergoing low anterior resection with defunctioning ileostomy can be safely managed within an Enhanced Recovery Programme

Background An increasing body of evidence supports the application of the Enhanced Recovery Programme (ERP) to colorectal surgery. Some institutions have reported an association between ERP failure and low rectal cancer surgery. We present the results that we achieved by applying the ERP to low anterior resections for tumours within 6 cm of the anal verge, with a view to determining the validity and safety of applying the ERP to this patient group. Methods A multimodal ERP, based on Kehlet’s model, was introduced in January 2007 and applied to all patients undergoing elective resections. Patients having a low anterior resection for a rectal cancer less than 6 cm from the anal verge between January 2007 and August 2011 were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. Individual patient record review was performed. Results Twenty consecutive patients (12 males) were identified. Median total postoperative length of stay (LOS), including readmission, was 8 days (mean 10.7, range 4–47 days), with 2 readmissions and no deaths. When surgery was uncomplicated, median LOS was 5 days (mean 5.8, range 4–12 days, n = 11), whereas LOS increased when a complication occurred, with a median of 12 days (mean 16.6, range 8–47 days, n = 9) [ p = 0.001]. Conclusions The ERP can safely be applied to this high-risk patient group. When no complication occurs, LOS of 5 days can be expected. When a complication is encountered, LOS is prolonged (12 days), but this is acceptable compared with the current national median LOS in the United Kingdom of 11 days for all rectal cancer surgery (at any height) with a stoma.