Development of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols in veterinary medicine through a one-health approach: the role of anesthesia and locoregional techniques

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a new and emerging concept in human medicine that involves rethinking the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. The ultimate, overarching aim is to improve patient outcome following surgery and, thus, return to a normal daily routine as soon as possible. The development and implementation of locoregional anesthetic techniques in humans is one of the key elements driving these protocols. In veterinary medicine, we are no exception: the rapidly growing interest, development, and refinement of these techniques in our veterinary species is changing the way we think of anesthesia and analgesia. The potential real benefits are yet to be determined, as this concept is implemented into our veterinary hospitals in general, and our surgical patients in particular, in a more systematic and routine way. In this article, we will introduce the reader to the concept of ERAS protocols and the role of regional anesthesia in some common surgical procedures.