[Multimodal (fast-track) rehabilitation in elective colorectal surgery: evaluation of the learning curve with 300 patients].

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to assess the learning curve on compliance to the application of a multimodal rehabilitation program (MMRP) protocol and patient recovery after elective colorectal surgery.

Material And Methods: A comparative prospective study of 3 consecutive cohorts of 100 patients (P1, P2 and P3) who had colonic or rectal surgery. The same MMRP protocol was applied in all cases.

Management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding after colorectal resection and stapled anastomosis.

Background: Although limited haematochezia with the first bowel movement is frequent in patients undergoing colorectal resection, postoperative life-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding is very rare. The purpose of this study was to review our results in the management of this complication.

Methods: We analysed the cases of patients with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding after colorectal surgery from 2000 to 2006 in our hospital.

[Multimodal rehabilitation programme in elective colorectal surgery. Development of a clinical pathway and preliminary results].

Introduction: Multimodal rehabilitation programmes enhance recovery and may reduce the postoperative complication rate and hospital stay after elective colorectal surgery.

Patients And Method: A clinical pathway of multimodal rehabilitation in elective colorectal surgery was developed. After implementation, 90 consecutive patients received multimodal rehabilitation care from April to December 2006.

Importance of appropriateness of empiric antibiotic therapy on clinical outcomes in intra-abdominal infections.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the frequency of inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy in secondary intra-abdominal infection and to identify the possible relationship between inappropriateness and some clinical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive multicenter study was conducted using hospital secondary databases developed at two university hospitals located in northeast Spain. Participants were patients 18 years of age or older who were diagnosed with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2000, identified through computerized patient records using ICD-9 codes.