Therapeutische Umschau. Revue thérapeutique
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In the last 15 years the Fast Track Concept or Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) as a clinical pathway for improving perioperative care, maintaining physiological functions, reducing intraoperative stress and shortening the length of hospital stay, has become more common in colorectal surgery. After first promising results in prospective studies an expert group developed recommendations of a modified, multimodal Fast Track Concept in 2009. Main elements in this concept are laparoscopy, no nasogastric tubes, perioperative peridural anaesthesia and quick mobilisation of the patient after surgery. ⋯ Furthermore the Fast Track Concept constitutes a challenge for the interdisciplinary collaboration of all involved treatment groups. Especially the postoperative outpatient treatment remains a problem due to unavailable rehabilitation capacities or ambulant care. Therefore a proper preoperative planning of the Fast Track Concept and the outpatient care should be performed interdisciplinary by the surgeons and the general practitioners.