Effect of fast-track rehabilitation on liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension after surgical therapy

Fast-track (FT) rehabilitation has proved to be successful in enhancing postoperative recovery, shorting hospital stay and reducing postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of FT rehabilitation protocol by a prospective study on liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension after surgical therapy. Pericardial vascular amputation and splenectomy surgery were performed in accordance with the guidelines of FT rehabilitation protocol or the conventional treatment. Recovery parameters included the post-operative complications, functional recovery of important organs, and post-operative rehabilitation time. A total of 26 patients underwent FT rehabilitation [fast-track surgery (FTS) group], and 20 patients underwent conventional treatment (control group). Compared with control group, FTS group had shorter time of gastrointestinal dysfunction, less blood plasma usage, less nutritional drugs costs (P < 0.01), shorter hospital stay (P=0.039) and fewer total complications (P=0.001). In FTS group, the serum prealbumin and transferrin levels returned to the preoperative level on day 8 after operation, which was significantly shorter than of the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, FTS rehabilitation could effectively decrease postoperative complications and promote rehabilitation, which is safe, rational and effective on liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension.