Owing to the significant variability in the components
of each programme, results are difficult to compare. As a
result, there is a paucity of published randomised trials. A
systematic meta-analysis of fast-track surgery identified only
three trials and three case histories that passed Cochrane
Centre’s criteria of evidence-based analysis (Counihan and
Favuzza, 2009). Because of the variances in each programme,
these were difficult to compare and/or draw any substantial
conclusions.