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 .
Intravenous hydration versus naso-jejunal enteral feeding after esophagectomy: a randomised study.
OBJECTIVE Patients undergoing esophagectomy are typically nutritionally depleted and can not establish oral feeding for up to a week after surgery . We have investigated the routine use of enteral feeding via a naso-jejunal tube . METHODS Forty consecutive patients undergoing a transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer were r and omised to receive enteral feeding or intravenous crystalloid fluids after surgery . Nutritional indices were obtained prior to surgery and on the 7th post-operative day . RESULTS There were no post-operative deaths . Non-fatal complications occurred in 10 patients , without difference in morbidity between the two groups . Lean body mass did not change in either group over the study period . No differences in any other parameters were identified between the two groups . CONCLUSION Enteral feeding via a naso-jejunal tube is safe and well tolerated after esophagectomy . It is a simple method of providing nutritional support prior to the re- introduction of oral feeding . However it provides no measurable benefit over intravenous hydration only for patients undergoing routine esophagectomy
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 .