Impact of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Program Implementation. Our Results.

Abstract

Background: The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is a multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathway to improve postoperative recovery. This study evaluates the impact of ERAS implementation on clinical outcomes, with a focus on length of stay (LOS) and postoperative complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective-prospective cohort study involving 231 patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery between 2016 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: pre-ERAS (n=84, 2016â?"2019) and ERAS (n=147, 2020 - 2023). The primary outcome was LOS, while secondary outcomes included postoperative complications and blood transfusion requirements. Statistical comparisons were made using the Student's t-test and the chi-square test, with significance defined as p 0.05. Results: ERAS implementation was associated with a significant reduction in LOS - from 10.3 days to 5.5 days (p 0.01). Although the overall complication rate did not differ significantly (p=0.15), fewer patients in the ERAS group experienced complications (10.5% vs 18.1%). No significant differences were found in rates of anastomotic leaks, surgical site infections, or postoperative transfusion. Conclusion: The ERAS protocol significantly reduced hospital stays without increasing postoperative morbidity in colorectal surgery patients. These findings support the clinical value and feasibility of the protocol.