Enhanced recovery after surgery programs: How much do perioperative nurses know?

Abstract

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to improve recovery and reduce patients’ risk of morbidity and mortality. Some researchers have noted 30 to 50 per cent reductions in post-operative hospital length of stay, reductions in surgical site infections and decreases in admission costs. Over the past two decades, ERAS protocols have been developed to cater to the specific needs and nuances across surgical specialties and subspecialties including general surgery (e.g. breast, hepatobiliary, colorectal and upper gastric surgeries), neurosurgery and gynaecological, orthopaedic and vascular surgeries. ERAS protocols cover the entire surgical journey, including pre-admission, pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative phases in the pathway.