Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs are multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathways designed to reduce the physiological stress of surgery and promote earlier functional recovery. In colorectal cancer surgery, recovery may be influenced by several factors, including postoperative pain, delayed mobilization, gastrointestinal dysfunction, prolonged intravenous therapy, and the continued use of catheters and drains.
This randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the implementation of an ERAS pathway in adult patients undergoing surgical resection for colorectal cancer and to compare postoperative recovery with that achieved through conventional perioperative care. The ERAS pathway incorporated coordinated interventions across the perioperative period, including preoperative preparation and education, perioperative analgesic management, postoperative mobilization, nutritional recovery, and planned discontinuation of supportive devices and therapies.
The study focused on clinically relevant indicators of postoperative recovery. Particular attention was given to the duration of postoperative hospitalization, return of gastrointestinal function, mobilization, postoperative pain, complications and adverse events, and the timing of withdrawal of supportive interventions. Laboratory parameters were also assessed as complementary indicators of perioperative recovery.
The study was conducted in a real-world oncology hospital setting and was intended to assess whether a structured ERAS pathway could improve postoperative recovery compared with the conventional perioperative care routinely provided to patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.
