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Review
. 2025 Feb;33(1):1-19.
doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2024.07.003. Epub 2024 Sep 17.

Free Flap Enhanced Recovery Protocols in Head and Neck Surgery

Affiliations
Review

Free Flap Enhanced Recovery Protocols in Head and Neck Surgery

Logesvar Balaguru et al. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols facilitates a standardized patient care regimen with a goal of reducing the metabolic stress of surgery. Adapted to head and neck free flap reconstructive surgery in 2017, these protocols focused on several key domains such as perioperative nutritional optimization, multimodal pain control, and early mobilization. Studies have shown that in addition to ERAS implementation, the maintenance and improvement of ERAS protocol compliance rates improve perioperative outcomes such as hospital length of stay and decrease major postoperative complications.

Keywords: ERAS; Enhanced recovery; Free flap reconstruction; Head and neck surgery; Length of stay; Perioperative care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose.

MeSH terms