Enhanced recovery after surgery: the future of improving surgical care

Abstract

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal perioperative care pathway designed to attenuate the stress response during the patients' journey through a surgical procedure to facilitate the maintenance of preoperative bodily compositions and organ function and in doing so achieve early recovery. The key factors that keep patients in hospital after uncomplicated major abdominal surgery include the need for parenteral analgesia, intravenous fluids secondary to persistent gut dysfunction, and bed rest caused by lack of mobility. The elements of the ERAS pathways are aimed to address these issues and the interventions that facilitate early recovery cover all three phases of the perioperative period during the patients' journey. They also provide clear guidance to all members of the clinical team.