title: Adherence to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and length of stay after colonic resection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programme is a multimodal approach to improve peri-operative care in colon surgery. The aim of this study was to report on the adherence to and outcomes of ERAS in the first years after implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of patients undergoing elective colon resections for malignancy in 2006 until 2010 were compared with patients receiving conventional care in 2005. Retrospective analysis was performed including length of stay (LOS), protocol adherence and complications. The predictive values of ERAS items and baseline characteristics on LOS and complications were analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Length of stay (LOS) was significantly shorter in 2006 and 2007 (P ≤ 0.009 and P ≤ 0.004) but not in 2008 and 2009. The mean adherence rate to the ERAS items was 84.1% in 2006 and 2007 and 72.4% in 2008 and 2009 (P < 0.001). In 2005, 2008 and 2009 LOS was significantly shorter for laparoscopically operated patients than for patients with open resections (P < 0.002, P < 0.001 and P < 0.004 respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that age, laparoscopic surgery, removal of nasogastric tube before extubation, mobilization within 24 h after surgery, starting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at day 1 and removal of thoracic epidural analgesia at day 2 were independent predictors of LOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strict adherence to the ERAS protocol was associated with reduced LOS and improved outcome in elective colon surgery for malignancy. These benefits were lost when protocol adherence was lower. Embedding the ERAS protocol into an organization and repetitive education are vital to sustain its beneficial effects on LOS and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: M F M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van Stijn
authors.forename: A M F
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lopes Cardozo
authors.forename: B L A M
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Langenhorst
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Schreurs
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: van der Ploeg
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bemelman
authors.forename: A P J
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Houdijk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Enhanced recovery; colon cancer; colon surgery; laparoscopic