Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathways designed to reduce surgical stress, accelerate recovery, and improve outcomes. They have been increasingly applied to major abdominal surgeries.
Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of ERAS protocols compared with conventional perioperative care in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgeries, assessing outcomes such as length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, opioid use, time to return of bowel function, and readmission rates.
Materials & Methods: Prospective comparative study (or randomized controlled trial) including adult patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery (e.g., colorectal resections, gastrectomy, hysterectomy). Patients received either ERAS care or standard care. Primary outcomes: length of stay (LOS) and overall complication rate (Clavien–Dindo). Secondary outcomes: time to first flatus/bowel movement, opioid consumption, time to mobilization, patient satisfaction, costs, and 30-day readmission. Statistical analysis: t-test/Mann–Whitney, Chi-square/Fisher’s exact, Kaplan–Meier for time-to-event outcomes.
Results (template): ERAS group showed significantly reduced median LOS (4 vs 7 days; p < 0.001), lower opioid use, faster return of bowel function (median 24 vs 48 hours; p < 0.001), and similar or reduced complication rates (20% vs 28%; p = 0.04). Readmission rates were comparable. Cost analysis favored ERAS due to shorter LOS and fewer complications.
Conclusion: ERAS protocols in elective abdominal surgery shorten hospital stay, hasten functional recovery, reduce opioid consumption, and are cost-effective without increasing readmission or complication rates. Broad implementation is recommended with local adaptation and staff training.