Definition, general principles and expected benefits of enhanced recovery in surgery

A multimodal approach to promoting recovery from surgery was first described by Henrik Kehlet in 1995. This approach has since been significantly developed and refined, and is now referred to as Enhanced Recovery in Surgery (ERS). The goal of ERS is to enable a patient to regain his/her pre-surgery physical and psychological state after a surgical procedure - notably by reducing the stress and the inflammatory response inevitably triggered by surgery. ERS protocols include anesthesia-related items (such as reducing the use of morphine) and surgical items (such as the use of minimally invasive routes, and limiting the postoperative use of drains and probes). Each step is essential - from patient information, education and adherence during the preoperative phase to involvement of the family circle and the attending physician with a view to early discharge. The term ERS corresponds to a set of principles for optimizing pre-, per- and postoperative care, the aim of which is to improve the post-operative course and the patient's experience by decreasing per- and postoperative complications and accelerating a return to the patient's pre-operative physical and psychological state. The use of ERS protocols is associated with a lower complication rate and a shorter hospital stay, regardless of the patient's age and comorbidities.