Impact of implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Background: The essence of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program is the multimodal approach, and many authors have demonstrated safety and feasibility in fast-track bariatric surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative pain after the implementation of an ERAS protocol in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and to compare it with the application of a standard care protocol.

Setting: University Hospital Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.

Methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial of all the patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was performed. Patients were randomized into the following 2 groups: those patients after an ERAS program and those patients after a standard care protocol. Postoperative pain, nausea or vomiting, morbidity, mortality, hospital stay, and analytic acute phase reactants 24 hours after surgery were evaluated.

Results: One hundred eighty patients were included in the study, 90 in each group. Postoperative pain (16 versus 37 mm; P < .001), nausea or vomiting (8.9% versus 2.2%; P = .0498), and hospital stay (1.7 versus 2.8 d; P < .001) were significantly lower in the ERAS group. There were no significant differences in complications, mortality, and readmission rates. White blood cell count, serum fibrinogen, and C reactive protein levels were significantly lower in the ERAS group 24 hours after surgery.

Conclusion: The implementation of an ERAS protocol was associated with lower postoperative pain, reduced incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting, lower levels of acute phase reactants, and earlier hospital discharge. Complications, reinterventions, mortality, and readmission rates were similar to that obtained after a standard care protocol.