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Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Robotic-assisted Lateral Pancreaticojejunostomy for Chronic Pancreatitis
Published on: September 5, 2025
A Cohort Study of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway for Pancreatic Surgery at a Community Hospital
Kent M Grosh1, Kyra N Folkert1, Jesse Chou2
1Department of General Surgery, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
Background:
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to improve pancreatic surgery outcomes, though feasibility in a community hospital remain unclear. We hypothesized that an ERAS protocol would reduce hospital length of stay (LOS) without increased morbidity.
Methods:
An ERAS pathway was initiated for patients undergoing pancreatic surgery at a community cancer center and compared to a historical cohort. The primary outcome was hospital LOS. Secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission rates, comprehensive complication index (CCI®), textbook outcomes (TO), and mortality.
Results:
A total of 144 patients were included, with 63 patients in the ERAS group and 81 in the control group. The mean LOS decreased significantly in the ERAS group (6.85 [± 4.8]) vs 9.96 [±6.8] days, P = .001), without an increase in 30-day admission rates or CCI.
Conclusions:
Implementation of an ERAS protocol in a community setting reduced LOS without a corresponding increase in readmission rates or morbidity.
