Effectiveness of a written clinical pathway for enhanced recovery after transthoracic (Ivor Lewis) oesophagectomy

Background: This study assessed the feasibility of a protocol‐driven written clinical pathway for multidisciplinary postoperative management after oesophagectomy for oesophageal neoplasia, and examined whether the application of such a protocol could shorten hospital stay and reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing transthoracic oesophagectomy for oesophageal neoplasia were divided into those treated between 2003 and 2008 to whom a clinical pathway was applied for postoperative management (group 1), and a control group treated between 1998 and 2002 when no clinical pathway was applied (group 2). Results: There were 74 patients in each group. Morbidity rates were similar in the two groups: 31 per cent in group 1 and 38 per cent in group 2. There were more pulmonary complications in group 2 (23 versus 14 per cent; P = 0·025). One patient (1 per cent) in group 1 and four (5 per cent) in group 2 died after surgery ( P = 0·010). The median (range) length of hospital stay was 9 (5–98) days for group 1 and 13 (8–106) days in group 2 ( P = 0·012). Conclusion: Use of a written clinical pathway in patients undergoing oesophageal resection significantly reduced pulmonary complications, postoperative mortality and hospital stay. Copyright © 2010 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.