Fast track surgery involves the use of a coordinated, multidisciplinary perioperative care plan to reduce complications, facilitate earlier discharge from the hospital, and permit faster recovery of the ability to carry out daily activities after elective surgery.

The elements of surgery that can be fast tracked fall into preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative elements.

The preoperative elements include nutritional support; levels of physical activity; the need for absolute fasting; patient education and preparation; and premedication.

Intraoperative elements include attenuating the surgical stress response; choosing the correct general, regional, or local anesthesia; maintaining normothermia; managing fluids; and opting to favor small incisions when possible.

Postoperative elements include considering multimodal analgesia; reassessing when to begin postoperative feeding; stressing the importance of early mobilization; restricting the unnecessary use of drains and catheters; and instituting a discharge follow-up plan for patients.