title: Eight years of experience with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in patients with colon cancer: Impact of measures to improve adherence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perioperative treatment of patients with colorectal cancer according to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol has proven to reduce complications and duration of stay. However, strict adherence remains a challenge and the benefits may decrease with lower adherence. In this study, we report on 8 years of adherence to the ERAS protocol and its effect on postoperative outcome in patients with colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006, the ERAS protocol was introduced for treatment of colon cancer patients in the Medical Center Alkmaar, a large teaching hospital. Patients scheduled for elective colon cancer resection were included in this study. Adherence to ERAS items was monitored and along with clinical data prospectively gathered in a database. In 2011, several measures to improve adherence were implemented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 816 patients were included. Mean adherence rate was 73% in 2006 and 2007, 66% in 2008 and 2009, 63% in 2010 and 2011, and 82% in 2012 and 2013. There was a shorter duration of stay in the years with high adherence (5.7 days) compared with the years with low adherence (7.3 days; P < .001). The ERAS items that were the strongest predictors for a shorter duration of stay were no nasogastric tube, early mobilization, early oral nutrition, early removal of epidural, early removal of catheter, and nonopioid oral analgesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to improve adherence to the ERAS protocol and related outcomes with specific measures. Adherence to the ERAS protocol was related inversely to duration of stay. Only postoperative items of the ERAS protocol were predictive for a shorter duration of stay. Keeping adherence optimal remains an ongoing challenge that requires repeated training and dedicated personnel.
authors: Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands; Trial Center Holland Health, Alkmaar, The Netherlands; VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: nathalie.bakker@mca.nl.
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Bakker
authors: Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors: Hamit
authors: H
authors: Cakir
authors: Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands; Trial Center Holland Health, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Doodeman
authors: Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands; Trial Center Holland Health, Alkmaar, The Netherlands; VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: A P J
authors: AP
authors: Houdijk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000592:standards*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome