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Abstract Aim Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) have proven to be the safest and most effective standards in managing elective colorectal cancer patients pre-, peri- and post-operatively. This audit assesses the compliance to ERAS protocol in a single centre. Method Retrospective data were collected on 87 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery in a single centre between January to October 2023. Rate of compliance to selected pre-, peri- and post-operative audit standards as defined in the ERAS protocol was assessed. Outcomes of ERAS discharge success (% discharged before day 6 post-op) and length of stay were also collected. Results Eighty-seven patients were found to have undergone elective colorectal surgery between January and October 2023. Laparoscopic (64.4%) and robotic (21.8%) surgery were the most common operative methods with right hemicolectomy (33.3%) and high anterior resection (26.4%) comprising the most common operations. The compliance to pre-operative criteria was 63.2%, intra-operative criteria was 78.5%, and post-operative criteria was 59.8%. The overall compliance to ERAS protocol was 65.4%. Mean length of stay was 6.2 days and 60.9% of patients were deemed to have a successful ERAS discharge. Conclusions This audit illustrates that improvements are required to ensure better compliance with the ERAS protocol in our department. Pre-operatively, this can be facilitated by providing patients with carbohydrate drinks. Post-operatively, this can be achieved through prompt discussions regarding analgesia, opioid prescribing and by ensuring appropriate prescribing of nutritional support. A second cycle post-intervention will allow a review of our chosen outcomes to ensure we are optimising post-operative outcomes for elective colorectal patients.
Gujjuri et al. (Mon,) studied this question.