Objective
This joint research between the Departments of General Surgery and Anesthesiology aimed to examine the feasibility and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in elective colorectal surgery.
Patients and methods
The study included 80 patients who were candidates for abdominal colorectal surgery, and were randomly divided into two groups: group C contained 40 patients managed perioperatively through conventional management procedures and group E contained 40 patients managed according to ERAS protocols. Patients in both groups were monitored throughout the perioperative period. Collected data included compliance data, operative data, postoperative complications, bowel recovery as well as the length of ICU and hospital stay.
Results
The overall compliance rates with the ERAS protocols was 80%. No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning operative time. Pain scores were significantly low (<0.001) between patients of the ERAS group compared with the other group. First flatus occurred at the first postoperative day in both groups with a significant difference in a number of cases (<0001) among both groups. Median postoperative length of stay was significantly different (<0.001) between the two groups.
Conclusion
ERAS pathway is feasible for application in colorectal surgery, as it shortened the postoperative hospital stay and showed no risk to patients in terms of morbidity or mortality.