title: Successful recovery after major surgery: moving beyond length of stay.
abstract: There is strong evidence that Enhanced Recovery Pathways improve length of hospital stay, readmission rates, and complications after major surgery. However, recovery is a complex process that only finishes when the patient returns to normal function. Future studies should also address the patient experience, as well as functional recovery and quality of life after major surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Exercise and Health, UCLH National Institute of Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: Monty
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mythen
keywords: Complications; Enhanced recovery after surgery; Length of stay; Patient experience; Quality of recovery