Recovering from surgery made easier

Medical researchers have been finding successful ways to help people recover more quickly from major surgery.

A trial at three Victorian hospitals found patients can be ready to go home days earlier than usual if doctors make a range of small changes to the way patients are treated.

The findings, which were presented in Melbourne last weekend, found patients in the trial had their average hospital stay after surgery cut from 12 to nine days.

Dr Simon Gower from Geelong hospital said the program began in Europe in the 1990s, however surgical teams in Australia have, for some reason, not “taken it up”.

“It’s unclear exactly why that is the case. But there is now increasing interest in this sort of Australasian region,” Dr Gower said.

According to Dr Gower, the trial began at the end of 2009 and has been ongoing since.

“The results are quite clear cut. Our main results show that we could reduce patient stay in hospital by about three days; and we were able to do that without any change in the rate of complications,” Dr Gower said.

The patients involved in the trial included people undergoing major abdominal surgery, including bowel cancer surgery.

“I guess it is fair to say that traditional surgical care for these patients has been based on what had been done in the past rather than scientific principles; and we know of a range of measures, each having a small effect, to improve or accelerate recovery of patients after surgery,” Dr Gower said.

Actions implemented to accelerate the recovery of the patient after surgery includ pre-surgery measures, which may involve patients not having to undergo bowel preparation such as consuming a drink that clears the bowel, or maintaining better nutrition in the lead-up to surgery.

“During the surgery itself we try to avoid using certain tubes so things like drain tubes and also avoiding using keyhole surgery wherever possible,” Dr Gower said.

“When they are on the ward recovery that allows them to move around more easily and they’re also started on food and drinks earlier as well. Altogether this whole package improves the recovery so they can get out of hospital sooner,” he said.

Dr Gower said the benefits are that patients can return home earlier and allowing them to return to their normal life. However, the financial benefits of early recovery and patient discharge also play a valuable role.

“Of course, from the hospital point of view, it reduces the costs associated with these types of surgery,” he said.

The program is continuing at Geelong Hospital and the Victorian Department of Health has shown interest in rolling out the program across other hospitals in the state.

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