Enhanced recovery after surgery in children

Area of Science:

• Surgical Care
• Patient Recovery Protocols

Background:

• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multidisciplinary approach to optimize patient health and clinical outcomes.
• ERAS protocols are implemented across preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative phases to improve patient safety and satisfaction while reducing healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application and impact of ERAS protocols in surgical disciplines.
• To highlight the benefits of ERAS in both adult and pediatric surgery, including reduced hospital stay and complications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of ERAS implementation across various surgical specialties.
• Analysis of patient outcomes, including length of stay, complications, pain management, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• ERAS protocols have demonstrated effectiveness in improving patient safety and reducing hospital length of stay without increasing readmission rates.
• Patients undergoing surgery within ERAS programs experience reduced pain, decreased opioid utilization, and faster recovery.
• Successful ERAS application spans diverse pediatric surgical fields, from cardiac to colorectal surgery.

Conclusions:

• ERAS represents a paradigm of quality and safety in surgical care, with growing adoption in pediatric surgery.
• The multidisciplinary nature of ERAS is crucial for successful implementation and integration of stakeholders across the healthcare system.