ObjectiveTo investigate the application of fast track surgery (FTS) in hepatobiliary surgery, and discuss the postoperative stress response and its efficacy and safety assessment. MethodsA total of 171 patients undergoing different hepatobiliary operations in our ward from August 2008 to Jule 2011 were randomly divided into control group (n=89) and FTS group (n=82). Patients in the FTS group received the improved methods while those in the control group received traditional care. A series of indicators such as hospital stay, hospital expense, duration of intravenous infusion, postoperative complications, and the C-reaction protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in serum were observed postoperatively. ResultsFor the FTS and control group, the first exhaust time was respectively (2.4±0.3) and (3.3±0.6) days, postoperative hospital stay was (9.1±2.7) and (14.1±4.1) days, hospitalization expense was (16 432±3 012) and (21 612±1 724) yuan, all of which had significant differences (P<0.05). Before surgery and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after surgery, IL-6 serum level for the FTS group was respectively (8.57±2.58), (30.21±12.44), (17.41±11.73), (11.14±7.12), and (10.50±5.19) ng/L, and for the control group was respectively (9.13±2.99), (51.31±19.50), (36.82±12.33), (28.23±9.18), and (15.44±4.33) ng/L. There was no significant difference in the preoperative IL-6 level between the two groups (P>0.05), while IL-6 level was significantly lower in the FTS group than the control group after surgery (P<0.05). Before surgery and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th day after surgery, CRP serum level for the FTS group was respectively (18.41±4.01), (69.74±26.03), (45.52±20.50), (39.14±11.23), and (29.03±6.47) μg/L, and for the control group was respectively (17.74±2.11), (99.23±23.50), (86.81±17.34), (68.22±15.60), and (37.70±9.55) μg/L. There was no significant difference in the preoperative CRP level between the two groups (P>0.05), while CRP level was significantly lower in the FTS group than the control group after surgery (P<0.05). Postoperative complication rate after surgery was not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe application of FTS in some hepatobiliary operations is effective and safe by decreasing the stress response.