A 2-Year Experience With Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Evaluation of Compliance and Outcomes in Pancreatic Surgery

J Nurs Care Qual. 2021 Apr-Jun;36(2):E24-E28. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000487.

Abstract

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs reduce recovery time, length of stay (LOS), and complications after major surgical procedures.

Purpose: We evaluated our 2-year experience with a newly implemented comprehensive ERAS program at a high-volume center after pancreatic surgery.

Methods: Outcomes, cost, and compliance metrics were assessed in 215 patients who underwent elective pancreatic surgery (pre-ERAS; n = 99; post-ERAS: n = 116). Mann-Whitney U and χ2 tests were used to evaluate continuous and categorical variables.

Results: There were significant decreases in LOS and cost in the post-ERAS cohorts. There were significant increases in compliance with ERAS implementation. Postoperative complication, readmission, and survival rates did not increase.

Conclusions: Implementation of ERAS at a large-volume hospital may improve compliance and reduce costs and LOS without increasing adverse outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Elective Surgical Procedures
  • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Pancreas / physiopathology*
  • Postoperative Complications