Perioperative quality of care is modulated by process management with clinical pathways for fast-track surgery of the colon

Purpose Clinical pathways (CPs) are increasingly used to improve quality of care. However, evidence if such improvements are also feasible in fast-track colorectal surgery is lacking. This study evaluates effects of a CP for fast-track colonic resections with respect to process and outcome quality. Methods We compared 78 consecutive patients undergoing colonic resections in 2008 and being treated with a CP (CP group) with 133 consecutive patients treated without CP between 2006 and 2007 (pre-CP group). Indicators for process quality were epidural catheter placement, postoperative mobilisation, resumption of solid diet, Foley catheter removal and length of stay. Outcome quality was measured through morbidity, mortality, re-operations and readmissions. Results In the CP group, patients received epidural analgesia significantly more often (87.2% vs. 75.2%; p =0.04), were mobilized (38.9% vs. 20.6% on the day of surgery; p = 0.03) and resumed a solid diet earlier (60.5% vs. 49.6% on day 1; p = 0.002). Foley catheter removal and length of stay did not differ between the groups. There were no significant differences regarding morbidity (28.2% vs. 32.3%), mortality (1.2% vs. 2.3%), re-operations (6.4% vs. 9.0%) and readmissions (2.6% vs. 3.8%). Conclusions After CP implementation for fast-track surgery of the colon, several indicators of process quality improved while others such as length of stay remained unaltered. There were no significant changes in outcome parameters. CPs are a viable instrument to improve specific aspects of perioperative process management, but their selective benefits have to be critically weighed against the infrastructural and personal efforts required for design and implementation.