What is Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)?
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), also known as “Yi Le Shi”, integrates the care pathway for surgical patients, allowing patients from outpatient diagnosis, waiting for hospitalization, preoperative preparation, undergoing surgery, postoperative recovery, and even post‑discharge follow‑up, to receive high‑quality care through the involvement of a multidisciplinary team.
ERAS was advocated in 1997 by a group of Nordic surgeons led by Danish surgeon Henry Kehlet. Initially it was implemented for patients undergoing colorectal surgery, focusing on enhancing nutritional intake, using non‑opioid analgesics, and encouraging early postoperative feeding, with the aim of reducing the incidence of intestinal obstruction, lowering medical costs, and shortening patients’ hospital stays.
Four Stages of the Yi Le Shi (ERAS) Program
Pre‑hospitalization waiting period: From outpatient scheduled surgery to before admission.
Pre‑operative preparation period: From the day of admission to before undergoing surgery.
Intra‑operative care period: The day of surgery.
Post‑operative recovery period: From the day of surgery until after discharge.
Benefits of ERAS for Patients
Accelerated functional recovery and early mobilization: Because pain is well controlled and the burden of tubes is reduced, patients can get out of bed earlier and perform functional training, which helps maintain muscle strength and cardiopulmonary function, reducing complications caused by prolonged bed rest.
Shortened fasting and early feeding: Through pre‑operative nutritional optimization and early postoperative feeding, patients can maintain their physical strength advantage, improve postoperative nutritional status, and accelerate recovery.
Significant reduction in complications and length of stay: According to medical evidence, implementing the ERAS pathway can effectively lower the incidence of postoperative complications, shorten hospital stays, and reduce unexpected readmission opportunities.
Enhanced patient engagement and satisfaction: Through pre‑operative education and optimization, patients shift from passively receiving surgery to actively participating in the recovery process; this patient‑centered experience can greatly increase overall satisfaction.
Creation of medical value: Implementing ERAS can reduce ineffective care and waste; proactively eliminating recovery barriers can avoid unnecessary repeated medical expenses, achieving a “win‑win” for healthcare institutions and patients.
