Comparison of Outcome between the Implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Programme (ERAS) vs. Traditional Care, in Elective Abdominal Surgeries

ERAS has been responsible for reducing surgical stress, maintaining postoperative physiological function, and for enhancing mobilization after surgery. It has been ultimately shown to reduce the rates of morbidity, hastening recovery, and reducing the length of hospital stay. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome between the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery program vs. traditional care in elective abdominal surgeries. METHODSThis retrospective study was carried out in the General Surgery Department of Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala. This is a tertiary care centre that caters to the needs of nearly five districts in the state. The hospital has excellent critical care and surgical facilities. Patients were grouped as ERAS and Non-ERAS. 78 patients were included in each group. A standard questionnaire was formulated. The clinical outcomes, functional recovery, and patient experience in ERAS and conventional methods of recovery after surgery were analyzed and compared. RESULTSDuration of hospital stay, complications, and costs incurred were found to be almost 60 % less as compared to the non-ERAS group and patient satisfaction was high in the ERAS group. By using ERAS, we have been able to reduce the duration of hospital stay by more than 30 % and the post-operative complications by up to 50 %. CONCLUSIONSThe ERAS programme has definite advantage over traditional methods in terms of hospital stay, treatment cost, complications, readmission rates and overall patient satisfaction. We have to analyse the avoidable factors leading to substandard care or any missed opportunities. Patient education must also be given utmost importance.