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Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: ERAS

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Abstract

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS®) pathways involve a series of perioperative evidence-based interventions that were developed for elective colorectal surgery. The adoption of ERAS pathways has resulted in improved outcome in terms of reduced morbidity, faster recovery, and reduced length of hospital stay in dedicated centers. Although most evidence for the use of several of the individual ERAS elements have been established within colorectal surgery, recent ERAS guidelines have been published for anesthesia practice, cystectomy for bladder cancer, gynecology, bariatric surgery, gastrectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. In the area of hepatic surgery, the same is expected within the next year. We provide an overview of perioperative ERAS care for colorectal surgery, pelvic procedures, and upper gastrointestinal surgery, based on currently available best evidence.

“If you can't measure it you can’t manage it.”

—Peter Drucker

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Abbreviations

CR:

Colorectal

EDA:

Epidural anesthesia

ERAS:

Enhanced recovery after surgery

GI:

Gastrointestinal

GNP:

Gross national product

PCA:

Patient-controlled analgesia

PD:

Pancreaticoduodenectomy

PONV:

Postoperative nausea and vomiting

QoL:

Quality of life

UGI:

Upper gastrointestinal

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Correspondence to Jonas Nygren MD, PhD .

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Nygren, J., Ljungqvist, O., Thorell, A. (2017). Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: ERAS. In: Sanchez, J., Barach, P., Johnson, J., Jacobs, J. (eds) Surgical Patient Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44010-1_22

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