The majority of this literature derives from the study of patients undergoing colorectal surgery , but increasingly enhanced recovery is spreading to other surgical specialties .
The combination of reduced length of hospital stay ( a surrogate for morbidity ) with no increase in readmissions to hospital suggests that morbidity is reduced with enhanced recovery .
Inconsistency in morbidity reporting limits the value of pooling data between studies , but within study comparisons in general support this conclusion .
Patients adhering to an  enhanced recovery programme  return to normal function faster than those following traditional care pathways .
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review is to summarize important publications in  enhanced recovery during 2010 - 2011 and to highlight key themes .
Fast-track surgery for bilateral total knee replacement.
Bilateral  simultaneous total knee replacement ( TKR )  has been considered by some to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality . Our study analysed the outcome of 150 consecutive , but selected , bilateral simultaneous TKRs  and compared them with that of 271 unilateral TKRs in a st and ardised fast-track setting . The procedures were performed between 2003 and 2009 . Apart from staying longer in hospital ( mean 4.7 days ( 2 to 16 ) versus 3.3 days ( 1 to 25 ) ) and requiring more blood transfusions , the outcome at three months and two years was similar or better in the bilateral  simultaneous TKR  group in regard to morbidity , mortality , satisfaction , the range of movement , pain , the use of a walking aid and the ability to return to work and to perform activities of daily living .  Bilateral simultaneous TKR can therefore be performed as a fast-track procedure with excellent results
The majority of this literature derives from the study of patients undergoing colorectal surgery , but increasingly enhanced recovery is spreading to other surgical specialties .
The combination of reduced length of hospital stay ( a surrogate for morbidity ) with no increase in readmissions to hospital suggests that morbidity is reduced with enhanced recovery .
Inconsistency in morbidity reporting limits the value of pooling data between studies , but within study comparisons in general support this conclusion .
Patients adhering to an  enhanced recovery programme  return to normal function faster than those following traditional care pathways .
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review is to summarize important publications in  enhanced recovery during 2010 - 2011 and to highlight key themes .