Overall , there is little direct evidence for components of ERAS , with much derived from nonesophageal thoracoabdominal surgery .
ERAS in principle seems logical and safe for esophagectomy .
OBJECTIVE This article aims to provide the first systematic review of enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) programs for  esophagectomy  and generate guidelines .
BACKGROUND ERAS programs use multimodal approaches to reduce complications and accelerate recovery .
Although ERAS is well established in colorectal surgery , experience after esophagectomy has been minimal .
However , esophagectomy remains an extremely high-risk operation , commonly performed in patients with significant comorbidities .
Consequently , ERAS may have a significant role to play in improving outcomes .
No guidelines or review s have been published in esophagectomy .
Beneficial Effects of Immediate Enteral Nutrition After Esophageal Cancer Surgery
Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of immediate enteral nutrition ( EN ) on nutritional status , immunological competence , and the suppression of excessive inflammatory responses in patients following esophageal cancer surgery . Twenty-four patients who underwent the same elective operation for thoracic esophageal carcinoma were r and omized into an immediate enteral nutrition ( IEN ) group who received EN from postoperative day ( POD ) 1 and a parenteral nutrition ( PAN ) group . Both groups received comparable volumes and calories on the same POD . Laboratory studies were carried out preoperatively and on PODs 1–7 . Other nutritional and immunological assessment s were repeated on PODs 1 and 7 . Plasma concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were also measured . All of the patients in the IEN group tolerated enteral feeding well . There were no significant differences in the results of nutritional assessment s , lymphocyte function , or plasma nitrate and nitrite levels between the two groups . The IEN group showed a significantly earlier recovery of the total lymphocyte count . The serum levels of total bilirubin and C-reactive protein were significantly attenuated in the IEN group . These results indicate that immediate EN may have beneficial effects on immunological competence and the suppression of excessive inflammatory responses in patients following esophagectomy . Patients undergoing radical esophageal surgery who are subjected to severe surgical stress might benefit the most from early EN
Overall , there is little direct evidence for components of ERAS , with much derived from nonesophageal thoracoabdominal surgery .
ERAS in principle seems logical and safe for esophagectomy .
OBJECTIVE This article aims to provide the first systematic review of enhanced recovery after surgery ( ERAS ) programs for  esophagectomy  and generate guidelines .
BACKGROUND ERAS programs use multimodal approaches to reduce complications and accelerate recovery .
Although ERAS is well established in colorectal surgery , experience after esophagectomy has been minimal .
However , esophagectomy remains an extremely high-risk operation , commonly performed in patients with significant comorbidities .
Consequently , ERAS may have a significant role to play in improving outcomes .
No guidelines or review s have been published in esophagectomy .