Fast-Track Programs for Liver Surgery: A Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives Plentiful publications have inspected the feasibility of fast-track surgery programs during hepatic surgery, but the potency of these studies has not been discussed profoundly so far. Our goal was to assess the effects of fast-track programs on surgical outcomes compared with traditional surgical plans for liver surgery. Methods The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded, etc. Studies meeting our inclusion criteria were included. All interrelated data and the methodological quality of included studies were extracted and assessed. We applied risk ratio and weighted mean difference as the estimated effect measures. Sensitivity analysis was performed to perceive the reliability of our findings. Results Altogether, 14 studies with 1400 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrated that implementation of fast-track surgery programs could observably decrease the total length of hospital stay, complication rate, postoperative first flatus time, and hospitalization expense, and did not compromise mortality and readmission rate. The above findings were also in line with the results of case-control studies. Conclusions Fast-track surgery programs are feasible and effective for liver surgery. Future studies should optimize fast-track surgery programs catering to liver surgery.