Enhanced recovery after surgery programs in patients undergoing hepatectomy: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Liver surgery presents significant postoperative challenges.
• Traditional perioperative care may not optimize patient recovery.
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols offer a structured approach to improve surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ERAS programs versus traditional care in liver surgery.
• To assess the impact of ERAS on key postoperative outcomes.
• To determine if ERAS improves patient recovery after liver resections.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
• Searched PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, and Cochrane databases for relevant studies.
• Included RCTs comparing ERAS with traditional care in adult liver surgery patients, focusing on complications, bowel function, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

• Five RCTs involving 723 patients were analyzed.
• ERAS significantly decreased overall complications (RR = 0.66) and grade I complications (RR = 0.51).
• ERAS also reduced hospital length of stay (WMD = -2.77 days) and time to first flatus (WMD = -19.69 hours).

Conclusions:

• ERAS programs are safe and effective for liver surgery.
• ERAS protocols lead to improved postoperative recovery and reduced complications.
• Further research is needed to identify specific ERAS components that maximize benefits in liver surgery.