Other outcome parameters were unsuitable for meta- analysis , but seemed to favour ERAS .
Analysis shows a reduction in overall complications , but major complications were not reduced .
Length of stay was reduced significantly .
We state that ERAS seems safe , but the quality of trials and lack of sufficient other outcome parameters do not justify implementation of ERAS as the st and ard of care .
Within ERAS protocol s included , no answer regarding the role for minimally invasive surgery ( i.e. laparoscopy ) was found .
BACKGROUND In recent years the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery ( ERAS ) postoperative pathway in (ileo-)colorectal surgery , aim ing at improving perioperative care and decreasing postoperative complications , has become more common .
OBJECTIVES We investigated the effectiveness and safety of the ERAS multimodal strategy , compared to conventional care after (ileo-)colorectal surgery .
The primary research question was whether ERAS protocol s lead to less morbidity and secondary whether length of stay was reduced .
Liberal or restrictive fluid administration in fast-track colonic surgery: a randomized, double-blind study.
BACKGROUND Evidence -based guidelines on optimal perioperative fluid management have not been established , and recent r and omized trials in major abdominal surgery suggest that large amounts of fluid may increase morbidity and hospital stay . However , no information is available on detailed functional outcomes or with fast-track surgery . Therefore , we investigated the effects of two regimens of intraoperative fluids with physiological recovery as the primary outcome measure after fast-track colonic surgery . METHODS In a double-blind study , 32 ASA I-III patients undergoing elective colonic surgery were r and omized to ' restrictive ' ( Group 1 ) or ' liberal ' ( Group 2 ) perioperative fluid administration .  Fluid algorithms were based on fixed rates of crystalloid infusions and a st and ardized volume of colloid .  Pulmonary function ( spirometry ) was the primary outcome measure , with secondary outcomes of exercise capacity ( submaximal exercise test ) , orthostatic tolerance , cardiovascular hormonal responses , postoperative ileus ( transit of radio-opaque markers ) , postoperative nocturnal hypoxaemia , and overall recovery within a well-defined multimodal , fast-track recovery programme . Hospital stay and complications were also noted . RESULTS ' Restrictive ' ( median 1640 ml , range 935 - 2250 ml ) compared with ' liberal ' fluid administration ( median 5050 ml , range 3563 - 8050 ml ) led to significant improvement in pulmonary function and postoperative hypoxaemia . In contrast , we found significantly reduced concentrations of cardiovascularly active hormones ( renin , aldosterone , and angiotensin II ) in Group 2 . The number of patients with complications was not significantly different between the groups [ 1 ( ' liberal ' group ) [ corrected ] vs 6 ( ' restrictive ' group ) [ corrected ] patients , P = 0.08 ] . CONCLUSIONS A ' restrictive ' [ corrected ] fluid regimen led to a transient improvement in pulmonary function and postoperative hypoxaemia but no other differences in all-over physiological recovery compared with a ' liberal ' [ corrected ] fluid regimen after fast-track colonic surgery . Since morbidity tended to be increased with the ' restrictive ' fluid regimen , future studies should focus on the effect of individualized ' goal -directed ' fluid administration strategies rather than fixed fluid amounts on postoperative outcome
Other outcome parameters were unsuitable for meta- analysis , but seemed to favour ERAS .
Analysis shows a reduction in overall complications , but major complications were not reduced .
Length of stay was reduced significantly .
We state that ERAS seems safe , but the quality of trials and lack of sufficient other outcome parameters do not justify implementation of ERAS as the st and ard of care .
Within ERAS protocol s included , no answer regarding the role for minimally invasive surgery ( i.e. laparoscopy ) was found .
BACKGROUND In recent years the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery ( ERAS ) postoperative pathway in (ileo-)colorectal surgery , aim ing at improving perioperative care and decreasing postoperative complications , has become more common .
OBJECTIVES We investigated the effectiveness and safety of the ERAS multimodal strategy , compared to conventional care after (ileo-)colorectal surgery .
The primary research question was whether ERAS protocol s lead to less morbidity and secondary whether length of stay was reduced .