title: A systematic review of outcomes in patients undergoing liver surgery in an enhanced recovery after surgery pathways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) or fast-track protocols have been implemented in different fields of surgery to attenuate the surgical stress response and accelerate recovery. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on outcomes of ERAS protocols applied in liver surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control studies and case series published between January 1966 and October 2011 comparing adult patients undergoing elective liver surgery in an ERAS programme with those treated in a conventional manner. The primary outcome measure was hospital length of stay (LoS). Secondary outcome measures were time to functional recovery, and complication, readmission and mortality rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 307 articles were found, six of which were included in the review. These comprised two RCTs, three case-control studies and one retrospective case series. Median LoS ranged from 4 days in an ERAS group to 11 days in a control group. Morbidity, mortality and readmission rates did not differ significantly between the groups. Only two studies assessed time to functional recovery. Functional recovery in these studies was reached 2 days before discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review suggests that ERAS protocols can be successfully implemented in liver surgery. Length of stay is reduced without compromising morbidity, mortality or readmission rates.
authors: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht 6202 AZ, the Netherlands. marielle.coolsen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Mariëlle M E
authors: MM
authors: Coolsen
authors: Edgar M
authors: EM
authors: Wong-Lun-Hing
authors: Ronald M
authors: RM
authors: van Dam
authors: Aart A
authors: AA
authors: van der Wilt
authors: Karem
authors: K
authors: Slim
authors: Kristoffer
authors: K
authors: Lassen
authors: Cornelis H C
authors: CH
authors: Dejong
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome