Impact of enhanced recovery after surgery on postoperative pain management and functional recovery in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding the role of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in optimizing pain management and functional recovery after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of ERAS protocols on postoperative pain management and functional recovery in patients undergoing CRC surgery.

Methods: A total of 109 patients with CRC admitted to The Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University between June 2021 and June 2024 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups: A control group (n = 50) receiving standard perioperative care and an observation group (n = 59) managed under an ERAS protocol. Clinical outcomes, including postoperative pain intensity [assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)], functional recovery indicators (time to first ambulation, bowel sound recovery, first anal gas discharge, and first defecation), average sleep duration on postoperative day 3, sleep quality (measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), length of hospitalization, quality of life (evaluated using the Short Form 36 Health Survey), and incidence of postoperative complications (e.g., surgical site infection, pulmonary infection, abdominal distension/pain, and intestinal obstruction), were systematically compared between the two groups.

Results: The observation group exhibited significantly lower VAS scores at 72 hours postoperatively, shorter durations of maximum VAS scores, earlier recovery of functional indicators (time to first ambulation, bowel sound recovery, first anal gas discharge, and first defecation), and shorter hospitalization compared with the control group. Additionally, average sleep duration on postoperative day 3 was significantly longer in the observation group. Furthermore, the observation group demonstrated significantly improved sleep quality (lower Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores) and higher quality of life (higher Short Form 36 Health Survey scores across all domains) than both the baseline and control groups. The incidence of total postoperative complications was also significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group.

Conclusion: ERAS protocols are highly effective in relieving postoperative pain, accelerating functional recovery, and improving overall clinical outcomes in patients with CRC undergoing surgery, supporting their broader clinical application.