Implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery at a General hospital in Zambia

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), with its aim of reducing operative stress and accelerating rehabilitation, became a standard perioperative care in multiple surgical specialties in developed world. However, little is known about the implementation of the fast-track pathways in a low-resource environment. The objective of the study was to describe our experience and share lessons obtained in using ERAS protocol in general surgery patients. Methods: In this descriptive study, all consecutive patients with no age restrictions undergoing elective and urgent abdominal surgery were assessed for inclusion in ERAS program. A retrospective analysis encompasses 98 patients aged two weeks to 87 years with male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Outcomes were functional recovery, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. Results: All elements of ERAS protocol including minimal incision length laparotomy and accelerated postoperative care were used; however, certain components were modified depending on the availability of the resources and patient’s condition. Postoperative period complicated in 17.4% of cases, seven patients (7.4%) died after urgent operations, and no mortality was recorded after elective procedures. Median length of stay was 4.0 days. Local and systemic septic complications, paralytic ileus and performing of the stoma reversal procedure during the same hospital stay were reasons for delayed discharge. Conclusion: This study indicates that employment of ERAS program for general surgery population at a second level hospital is feasible and safe. Further larger-scale studies are needed.