BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial results after the implementation of the ACERTO project in patients submitted to abdominal operations at the Julio Muller Universitary Hospital. METHODS: 161 consecutive patients were studied in two different periods: from January to July 2005 and from August to December 2005 (n=84; POST-ACERTO phase). The patients received either traditional peri-operative management (n=77; PRE-ACERTO phase) or a multidisciplinary protocol of peri-operative care (n=84; POST-ACERTO phase) established by the ACERTO project. During both periods, the surgical staff was unaware of the prospective data collection. RESULTS: The number of malnourished patients receiving pre-operative nutritional support was higher after the implementation of the project (78.6%; 11/14 vs. 23.5%; 4/17; p <0.01).This second phase was associated with a decrease in both pre (16 [8-27] vs 5 [2-20] hours, p<0,01) and post-operative fasting (3 [1-15] vs 1 [1-6] days, p<0.01), and in the volume of intravenous fluids (8 [1-63.5] vs 4 [0.5-63] L, p<0.001). The changing of protocols reduced the hospital length of stay by two days (5 [2-46] vs 3 [1-64] days, p<0,05) and the postoperative morbidity by 60% (18.2%;14/77 vs 7.1%;6/84, p=0.03; RR=2,55, IC95%1.03-6.29, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The implantation of a multidisciplinary protocol such as those contained in the ACERTO project is feasible in this country and may decrease both hospitalization and postoperative morbidity after general surgery.
Nutrition therapy; Preoperative care; Postoperative care; Postoperative complications; Protocols; Outcome assessment (health care)
