Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols

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ERAS Basics - Speedy Recovery Secrets

  • Definition: ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) is a comprehensive, evidence-based, multimodal perioperative care pathway. Its aim is to attenuate the surgical stress response.
  • Key Goals (📌 RAM):
    • Reduce physiological stress.
    • Accelerate postoperative recovery.
    • Maintain (or rapidly restore) organ function.
  • Core Principles:
    • Multidisciplinary team collaboration.
    • Application of evidence-based practices.
    • Patient-centered approach (education, engagement).
    • Regular audit and feedback for continuous improvement.

⭐ ERAS protocols have been shown to reduce hospital length of stay by 30-50% and complications significantly.

Pre‑Op Power‑Up - ERAS Prep School

  • Core Aim: Optimize patient physiologically pre-surgery to minimize stress, enhance recovery.
  • Pre-admission Counselling: Patient education, expectation management, optimize comorbidities.
  • Nutrition & Fasting Guidelines:
    GuidelineDetail
    No Prolonged FastingSolids 6h pre-op; Clear liquids up to 2h pre-op.
    Carbohydrate (CHO) Loading~50g night before & ~50g (e.g., 400ml of 12.5% solution) 2h pre-op.
  • Bowel Preparation: Selective; avoid routine mechanical bowel prep (most colorectal surgeries).
  • Lifestyle Changes: Smoking/alcohol cessation, ideally ≥4 weeks pre-op.
  • Prehabilitation: Improve function: exercise, nutrition, psychological support.
  • Prophylaxis: VTE & antibiotic prophylaxis per guidelines.

⭐ Preoperative oral carbohydrate loading attenuates postoperative insulin resistance and improves patient comfort.

Intra‑Op Insights - ERAS In Action

  • Surgical Approach:
    • Prefer minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to reduce stress response & pain.
  • Anaesthesia & Pain Control:
    • Emphasize regional/epidural anaesthesia.
    • Implement opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia (e.g., NSAIDs, paracetamol, gabapentinoids, local infiltration).
  • Fluid & Temperature Homeostasis:
    • Maintain normothermia: actively warm, target core temperature >36°C.
    • Achieve euvolemia with goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT); avoid routine fluid overload.
  • Minimizing Interventions:
    • Avoid routine nasogastric (NG) tube decompression.
    • Restrict use of surgical drains.

⭐ Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is a cornerstone for pain management in major open abdominal surgery within ERAS pathways, facilitating early mobilization.

Post‑Op Progress - ERAS Fast Track

📌 Mnemonic: HEAL FAST

  • Hydration & Early Oral Nutrition: Start clear fluids within hours, diet by Day 0-1.

    ⭐ Early enteral nutrition (within 24 hours) is crucial for maintaining gut integrity and reducing septic complications.

  • Analgesia: Multimodal opioid-sparing (e.g., NSAIDs, paracetamol, regional blocks).
  • Liberties & Laxatives: Early removal of urinary catheter (POD 1), nasogastric tube; prevent ileus.
  • Functional Mobilization: Out of bed >2 hours on Day 0, >6 hours on Day 1.
  • Audit: Track compliance & outcomes.
  • Safe Discharge: DVT prophylaxis (e.g., LMWH, stockings), glycemic control (target <180 mg/dL).
  • Thromboprophylaxis & Trouble Prevention: Prevent PONV.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • ERAS is a multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathway designed to accelerate patient recovery after major surgery.
  • Key components include preoperative patient education, carbohydrate loading, avoiding prolonged fasting, and opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia.
  • Postoperatively, early mobilization, early oral nutrition, and prevention of ileus are emphasized.
  • Aims to reduce physiological stress, length of hospital stay (LOS), and postoperative complications like infections and VTE.
  • Avoids routine use of nasogastric tubes, abdominal drains, and excessive intravenous fluids.
  • Goal-directed fluid therapy and thromboprophylaxis are integral parts of ERAS protocols for optimal outcomes.
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Practice Questions: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols

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