The Effect of Using Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol on Activities of Daily Living and 30-day Readmission Following Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Single-center, Comparative, Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol on activities of daily living and 30-day hospital readmission in patients undergoing gastric and colorectal cancer surgery.

DESIGN

A single-center, comparative, prospective study.

METHODS

Data were collected from patients who underwent gastric and colorectal surgery at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital General Surgery Clinics between November 2023 and April 2024. A total of 186 patients, 93 patients receiving standard care and 93 patients receiving the ERAS protocol, were included in the study. In both groups, the frequency of unplanned visits to the emergency department and outpatient clinics after discharge and the need for assistance from another person in performing activities of daily living were examined.

FINDINGS: When the postoperative hospital stay was compared, the hospital stay of patients who underwent the ERAS protocol was shorter than those who underwent the standard protocol. Within 30 days after discharge, 30 patients in the standard protocol and 21 patients in the ERAS protocol were admitted to the emergency department. Within 30 days after discharge, 36 patients in the standard protocol and 14 patients in the ERAS protocol presented to the outpatient clinic unplanned. Patients who underwent the ERAS protocol received more assistance in daily living activities, such as moving around and dressing at home after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who underwent the ERAS protocol had lower emergency department and outpatient admission rates within 30 days and received less assistance in performing daily living activities.