Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a new concept of perioperative patient care that focuses  on the minimization of impact of surgery on patients homeostasis. The concept is being routinely practised in colorectal surgeries but there are only a few  studies on its application and safety in Upper Gastrointestinal surgeries . We undertook this study to look for the advantages  and  feasibility of ERAS in Gastric Resections in our Institute.

Methods: This Prospective study consisted of 100 patients randomly assigned to two groups, ERAS group (n= 50) and  Control Or Traditional group(n= 50), operated in the Department of Surgery between 2013 and 2016. All patients managed as per ERAS  protocol were compared with controls in terms of time of mobilization, appearance of bowel function, initiation of enteral feeding, development of complications and length of  hospital stay. Data was recorded and analysed.

Results: Patients in the ERAS group  were mobile early (on zero post op day VS control on 1pod),NG tubes were removed earlier (2^nd POD  VS 3^RD – 4^TH POD ),resumed orals earlier (ON 3^RD POD VS 5^TH POD),bowel functional returned back to normal much earlier than those in control group . Hospital stay was much lower in ERAS group (mean 5 days vs 8.5 days) .Patients in the both groups were comparable in terms of postoperative complications .Readmission within 30 days of Discharge was higher for ERAS Group compared to Control (4%vs0.0%)

Conclusion: The principles of ERAS in Gastric Resections are applicable and beneficial and decreases the hospital stay without increasing the risk of complications.

Keywords: ERAS, gastrectomy, ambulation, recovery.

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Mudasir Habib

Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery

Sher I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir, India