Patterns in current perioperative practice: survey of colorectal surgeons in five northern European countries

Responses

Scotland

Netherlands

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Response rate

55/76 (72.4)

36/43 (83.7)

43/63 (68.3)

38/41 (92.7)

28/40 (70.0)

For an elective left sided* hemicolectomy for cancer, would bowel preparation be administered?

   No

2/52 (3.8)

6/33 (18.2)

1/38 (2.6)

2/37 (5.4)

5/26 (19.2)

   Yes, oral purg

44/52 (84.6)

17/33 (51.5)

36/38 (94.7)

33/37 (89.2)

16/26 (61.5)

   Yes, enema

2/52 (3.8)

4/33 (12.1)

0

1/37 (2.7)

4/26 (15.4)

   Yes, both

4/52 (7.7)

6/33 (18.2)

1/38 (2.6)

1/37 (2.7)

1/26 (3.8)

Is nasogastric decompression tube routinely left in place for more than four hours after surgery?

   No

39/52 (75.0)

8/36 (22.2)

35/42 (83.3)

31/38 (81.6)

23/27 (85.2)

   Until next morning

6/52 (11.5)

13/36 (36.1)

7/42 (16.7)

7/38 (18.4)

3 /27 (11.1)

   Two days or more

6/52 (11.5)

6/36 (16.7)

0

0

0

   Until bowel movement

1/52 (1.9)

9/36 (25.0)

0

0

1/27 (3.7)

Is epidural analgesia used routinely postoperatively after transfer to general ward? (Not high dependency ward/intensive care unit)

   Yes

6/55 (10.9)

30/36 (83.3)

40/43 (93.0)

33/37 (89.2)

26/27 (96.3)

   No

49/55 (89.1)

6/36 (16.7)

3/43 (7.0)

4/37 (10.8)

1/27 (3.7)

Are there any restrictions on routine intravenous clear fluid administration in the first 72 hours after surgery?

   Yes

13/55 (23.6)†

5/35 (14.3)

2/43 (4.7)

3/38 (7.9)

1/28 (3.6)

   No

42/55 (76.4)

30/35 (85.7)

41/43 (95.3)

35/38 (92.1)

27/28 (96.4)

Are there any restrictions on routine intravenous sodium administration in the first 72 hours after surgery?

  Yes

14/54 (25.9)†

5/35 (14.3)

0

3/38 (7.9)

2/28 (7.1)

   No

40/54 (74.1)

30/35 (85.7)

43/43 (100.0)

35/38 (92.1)

26/28 (92.9)

How long would a patient be "nil by mouth" (less than 450 ml clear fluid) postoperatively?

   0 days

18/48 (37.5)

21/36 (58.3)

30/42 (71.4)

31/37 (81.6)

27/28 (96.4)

   1-2 days

22/48 (45.8)

14/36 (38.9)

11/42 (26.2)

7/37 (18.4)

1/28 (3.6)

   3-4 days

8/48 (16.7)

1/36 (2.8)

1/42 (2.4)

0

0

When would patients be allowed to resume oral intake at will for fluids (drink freely)?

   Operating day

9/49 (17.6)

7/35 (20.0)

11/43 (25.6)

15/37 (40.5)

20/27 (74.1)

   Postoperative day one

23/49 (45.1)

18/35 (51.4)

25/43 (58.1)

20/37 (54.1)

7/27 (25.9)

   At bowel sounds

7/49 (13.7)

3 /35 (8.6)

3/43 (7.0)

1/37 (2.7)

0

   At passage of gas

10/49 (19.6)

2/35 (5.7)

1/43 (2.3)

1/37 (2.7)

0

   Bowel movement

2/49 (3.9)

5/35 (14.3)

3/43 (7.0)

0

0

When would patients be allowed to resume oral intake at will for solids (eat freely)?

   Operating day

5/48 (10.4)

1/35 (2.9)

5/41 (12.2)

3/38 (7.9)

11/27 (40.7)

   Postoperative day one

8/48 (16.7)

15/35 (42.9)

13/41 (31.7)

17/38 (44.7)

12/27 (44.4)

   At bowel sounds

6/48 (12.5)

4/35 (11.4)

9/41 (22.7)

2/38 (5.3)

0

   At passage of gas

21/48 (43.8)

6/35 (17.1)

11/41 (26.8)

12/38 (31.6)

4/27 (14.8)

   Bowel movement

8/48 (16.7)

9/35 (25.7)

3/41 (7.3)

4/38 (10.5)

0

To patients who are not obviously malnourished preoperatively, do you routinely give nutritional support within the first five postoperative days (not counting clear intravenous glucose)?‡

   No

39/52 (75.0)

25/36 (69.4)

26/45 (57.8)

23/39 (60.0)

10/29 (34.5)

   Yes, sip feed

8/52 (15.4)

8/36 (22.2)

11/45 (24.5)

10/39 (25.6)

12/29 (41.4)

   Yes, naso-enteral tube

3/52 (5.8)

2/36 (5.6)

0

0

6/29 (20.7)

   Yes, parenteral

2/52 (3.8)

1/36 (2.8)

8/45 (17.8)

6/39 (15.4)

1/29 (3.4)