Table 3 Intention to treat analysis of the primary and secondary endpoints

Postoperative hospital stay (days), mean (SD)

12.3 (12.7)

8.3 (4.5)

   Median (IQR)

9.0 (6.8–11.3)

7.0 (6.0–9.8)

0.049*

SECONDARY ENDPOINTS

Postoperative complications

23

13

0.360 (0.133 to 0.588)

- Major complications

12

5

0.244 (0.028 to 0.460)

   - Death

1

0

   - Cardiac

2

0

   - Leakage of anastomosis

6

1

0.135 (-0.011 to 0.282)

   - Re-admission

3

4

- Minor complications

11

8

0.117 (-0.112 to 0.345)

   - Wound infection

5

1

   - Wound dehiscence

1

0

   - Infection

0

1

   - Respiratory

1

0

   - Bleeding

1

3

   - Thromboembolism

1

0

   - Miscellaneous

2

3

Gastric function

- First flatus (days)

2.8 (1.3)

2.9 (1.5)

   Median (IQR)

3 (2–3)

3 (1–4)

0.713*

- First defecation (days)

3.7 (1.3)

3.5 (1.7)

   Median (IQR)

4 (3–4)

4 (2–5)

0.725*

- Removal nasogastric tube (days)

2.3 (1.3)

2.4 (2.9)

   Median (IQR)

2 (1–3)

2 (1–2)

0.393*

- Removal of epidural catheter (days)

3.3 (1.5)

3.7 (1.5)

   Median (IQR)

4 (2–4)

4 (3–4)

0.420*

- Removal of IV catheter (days)

4.9 (2.7)

5.1 (4.5)

   Median (IQR)

4 (3–5)

4 (3–5)

0.648*

- Normal diet (days)

4.3 (1.9)

4.2 (3.2)

   Median (IQR)

4 (3–5)

4 (3–4)

0.254*