Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocols for Amelioration of Surgical Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols termed as “fast track surgery” have now become an essential componentin the perioperative period to improve post-operative outcomes. It is both the patient and the health services who receive thebenefits of ERAS. It is a new and different approach when compared to traditional practices which aims at enhanced care ofsurgical patients. It includes pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative components which when applied altogether givebest possible results. Effective implementation of ERAS protocols is associated with fast recovery of gut function and reducedrate of complications. All these factors further lead to decreased post-operative hospital stay, thereby decreasing hospital costand increasing patient satisfaction.