A New Concept for Early Recovery after Surgery for Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Results of a Prospective Randomized Study

• Published in: The Journal of urology Vol. 191; no. 2; pp. 335 - 340
• Main Authors: Karl, A, Buchner, A, Becker, A, Staehler, M, Seitz, M, Khoder, W, Schneevoigt, B, Weninger, E, Rittler, P, Grimm, T, Gratzke, C, Stief, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; convalescence; cystectomy; Cystectomy - methods; Female; Hospital Units; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Postoperative Care - methods; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; rehabilitation; Time Factors; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; urinary bladder neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - surgery; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Urology; cystectomy; conservative regimen; convalescence; rehabilitation; DVT; urinary bladder neoplasms; early recovery after surgery; deep venous thrombosis; CR; ERAS; Concept; Human; Nephrology; Urinary system disease; Urinary tract disease; Malignant tumor; Bladder cancer; Recovery; Bladder tumor; Urology; Prospective; Cystectomy; Randomization; Convalescence; Treatment; Urinary system; Urinary bladder; Surgery; Rehabilitation(human); Early; Bladder disease; Rehabilitation; Cancer
• ISSN: 0022-5347; 1527-3792
• DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.08.019

Purpose Early recovery after surgery concepts have gained wide acceptance in various surgical specialties. However, limited data are available for radical cystectomy. A new early recovery after surgery concept was compared to a more conservative regimen in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Materials and Methods A total of 101 consecutive patients were prospectively randomized to early recovery after surgery (62) or a conservative regimen (39) (intended randomization ratio was 2 early recovery after surgery-to-1 conservative regimen). Primary end points were differences in quality of life, and secondary end points included postoperative morbidity, demand for analgesics, time spent in the intermediate care unit, mobility and number of gastrointestinal events during hospital stay. Results Quality of life parameters, as measured by the EORTC (European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer) Quality of Life questionnaire QLQ-30 did not change significantly between postoperative days 3 and 7 and at discharge from hospital in the conservative regimen group, whereas a significant improvement was observed in the early recovery after surgery group. Postoperative morbidity was lower in the early recovery after surgery group in terms of wound healing disorders (p = 0.006), fever (p = 0.004) and thrombosis (p = 0.027). The demand for analgesics was significantly lower in the early recovery after surgery group. The amount of food consumed in relation to the amount of food offered was significantly higher for the early recovery after surgery group as early as day 3 (p = 0.02). Time spent in the intermediate care unit was significantly shorter for the early recovery after surgery group (p <0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to gastrointestinal events. The main limitations of this study were the lack of long-term data as well as the single center approach. Conclusions Early recovery after surgery of patients who underwent radical cystectomy appears to have significant benefits compared to a conservative regimen in terms of postoperative morbidity, quality of life, use of analgesics and time spent in the intermediate care unit.