A questionnaire survey was conducted using e-mail to investigate the application status of ERAS in Korea and its implementation by their institution. The perceptions of ERAS by medical staff and the factors that interfered with the application of ERAS were investigated.
From July 2017 to March 2019, a questionnaire was sent by e-mail to members of the KSSMN. This consisted of 41 questions divided into three parts to investigate 1) respondents’ prior knowledge and understanding of ERAS, 2) actual components of ERAS and its clinical application, and 3) performance and preference of the respondents to ERAS. The items were categorized into “high acceptance” when more than 75% of respondents answered “yes”, or the items into “low acceptance” when less than 25% answered “no”.
Overall, 86 participants completed the survey. Of these, 59(68.6%) had prior knowledge of ERAS and 29 (33.7%) applied ERAS clinically. Seventy (81.4%) and 40 (46.5%) answered that ERAS would have a positive effect on shortening the hospital stay and reducing the number of complications. Seventy four (86%) indicated that they would implement ERAS in the future. The factors impeding the implementation of ERAS were a lack of understanding of physicians and a shortage of manpower and resources for ERAS.
The ERAS implementation rate and awareness level of surgeons were low, but the positive expectations of the clinical efficacy of ERAS and the wiliness to accept were high. Overall, it would be necessary to cooperate with institutions to improve the manpower and resources, and supplement the education to overcome the lack of awareness, which has been pointed out as an obstacle to the implementation of ERAS.
In surgical procedures under general anesthesia, 6 to 8 hours of a
A group of 30 adult patients scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia were enrolled. The enrolled study group of patients was permitted to drink a carbohydrate-rich solution until two hours before the operation without volume limitation. Respiratory complication was investigated in the patients using the carbohydrate-rich solution until two hours before induction of general anesthesia. The feelings of thirst, hunger sense were measured pre- and post-operatively. In addition, hoarseness of voice, nausea and vomiting were investigated post-operatively. Satisfaction regarding the short time of fasting was measured. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for measurement of these six variables.
No patients showed serious respiratory complication such as dyspnea, desaturation. Eight of 30 study group patients complained of mild hoarseness. Most symptoms of hoarseness were mild, with VAS score less than 3 out of 10. Two patients complained 5 out of 10. Six patients felt nausea and 1 patient had vomiting. Pre/post-operative hunger sense and thirst feeling were 1.63/1.60 and 1.90/5.76, respectively. The satisfaction score was 3.00 out of 4.
Allowing the administration of an oral carbohydrate-rich solution in elective surgery patients requiring general anesthesia is safe without serious respiratory complications and effective in providing satisfaction.
The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes in patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted low anterior resection for colorectal cancer. The patients received either conventional perioperative care or the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) procedural care.
A retrospective review was conducted in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic low anterior resection for colorectal cancer between May, 2011 and December, 2013. Patients were grouped and analyzed according to the perioperative care program of ERAS and conventional care.
A total of 81 patients received care via the ERAS pathway and 230 patients received care via conventional pathway. There was no significant difference in postoperative morbidity rates (P=0.381). The post-operative morbidity rates were 30.9% and 25.2% in the ERAS and conventional groups. No significant difference in hospital stay (9.0±6.8 vs. 8.6±3.5 days; P=0.575) was observed between the 2 groups.
No short-term perioperative disadvantages were found for the ERAS program compared with the conventional perioperative care for colorectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection. (Surg Metab Nutr 2015;6:11-15)