Efficacy of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols in Emergency Colorectal Surgery: A Meta-Analytical Comparison With Conventional Care in Terms of Outcomes and Complications

The "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery" (ERAS) strategy, a patient-centered, evidence-based approach, aims to reduce surgical stress, maintain physiological function, and expedite recovery. Initially developed for elective surgeries, particularly colorectal procedures, ERAS protocols are now being explored for their potential benefits in the more challenging context of emergency surgeries. The current investigation aims to identify the most useful ERAS components in emergency surgery scenarios by comparing postoperative recovery times, possible health outcomes of patients, and complication rates. Through August 2023, extensive searches were conducted in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. Data were taken from nine RCTs, which were prospective and retrospective cohort studies and were used to derive important outcomes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was employed to measure the caliber of research. Effect pooling estimates were estimated using random-effects models. For the investigations, STATA version 16.0 and Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4 were used. Nine studies that addressed the range of ERAS components and outcomes were included. Compared to standard treatment, ERAS procedures generally showed faster postoperative recovery durations. Studies' success or adherence rates differed. Subgroup analyses were necessary due to significant heterogeneity in order to determine potential sources. For emergency colorectal procedures, ERAS methods shorten postoperative recovery periods when appropriately modified and put into practice. However, varying success rates throughout studies showed that, in order to maximize and standardize ERAS protocols for comprehensive advantages, significant thought and further study are required. The meta-analysis suggests that ERAS protocols offer substantial benefits in emergency colorectal surgeries, particularly in reducing postoperative recovery times and complication rates.