ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the influence of fast-track surgery in perioperative period on the clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 117 patients with esophageal cancer between January 2011 and June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-three cases (study group) were treated with fast-track surgery and 54 cases(control group) were treated according to routine protocol in the perioperative period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operative time, time to drainage tube removal, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in the study group than those in the control group(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the medical cost was lower(P<0.05). The overall postoperative complication rate was 7.9% in the study group and 24.1% in the control group(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fast-track surgery in the perioperative period for patients with esophageal cancer can promote bowel function recovery and decrease morbidity.</p>