Background: Multimodal protocols may enhance postoperative recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a multimodal protocol in the clinical results, insulin resistance, and inflammatory response to trauma in morbidly obese patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy.
Methods: The population of the study consisted of morbidly obese patients, who were operated using sleeve gastrectomy, from Cuiaba, MT, Brazil, between April and October 2012. Twenty patients were divided into two groups whom received either traditional preoperative care or treatment following the Acerto (accelerating the total recovery of patients in the postoperative period) protocol. The study examined inflammatory response and insulin resistance by measuring levels of glucose, insulin, Homa-IR, reactive C protein, albumin, prealbumin, alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, interleukin 6, and glycosylated hemoglobin. In addition, the study investigated hydration levels, nausea and vomiting, hypertension, and length of hospital stay.
Results: Patients who followed the Acerto protocol showed no postoperative hypertensive crises (p = 0.03), and 30 % less vomiting (p = 0.35), and showed significant reductions in length of hospital stay, on average of 3 days versus 2 days (p = 0.02). There were not significant statistical differences between the two groups with respect to inflammatory response and insulin resistance (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the prescription of the Acerto multimodal protocol for morbidly obese patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy was safe, reduced the rate hypertensive complications, and the length of both ICU and hospital postoperative stay. However, there was no improvement in postoperative insulin resistance or inflammatory acute phase response.