Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols: A paradigm shift in perioperative care and breaking our practice norms

Dr. Gauravkumar Patel; Dr. Sharad Patel

Volume : III, Issue : IX, September - 2014

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols: A paradigm shift in perioperative care and breaking our practice norms

Dr. Gauravkumar Patel, Dr. Sharad Patel

Abstract :

Purpose: The objective of this article is to provide updated review to evidence based components of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) against conventional perioperative care in elective and emergency surgeries. Recent findings: Fast tract surgeries and multimodal enhanced recovery pathways are now achieving world wide recognition as standardized perioperative care in multiple surgical sub–specialties like colorectal and pelvis surgery, urological surgery, gynecological surgery, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery. This optimized care has challenged long standing traditional perioperative care and resulted in a evidenced based well established protocols, which enhances postoperative recovery, reduced hospital stay, readmission rate and overall medical cost. However issues relating to its awareness, training and education, implementation, auditing, patient compliance and cost effectiveness in limited resource settings need to be addressed. Summary: In Summery ERAS protocols are future of discipline–specific or surgery–specific optimized perioperative care pathways, which have potential to fast tract recovery without increasing postoperative mortality and morbidity if implemented with consistency. However it will need more research to address issues related to it.