Abstract
Problem: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to minimize surgical stress, improve patient outcomes, and shorten hospital stays. While ERAS has shown benefits in various surgical disciplines, challenges were faced in implementing and customizing these protocols for specific populations. This project evaluated how ERAS interventions impact recovery metrics, including hospital length of stay, bowel recovery, and cardiac rehabilitation outcomes.
Intervention: ERAS-based perioperative care strategies were implemented focusing on early mobilization, optimized pain management, reduced opioid use, and timely enteral nutrition. The patients were monitored for compliance and adherence to protocol components to assess their effect on recovery.
Measures: Primary outcome measures were defined as hospital stay duration, bowel movement improvement, and completion of cardiac rehabilitation step 5. The pre-intervention and post-intervention groups were compared to determine effectiveness.
Results: The findings did not demonstrate improvement in hospital length of stay, enhanced bowel movement, or cardiac rehabilitation step 5 in the post-intervention group. Factors potentially influencing the findings include the low number of participants in the post-intervention group and the co-morbidity factors of the participants. These results highlight the need to investigate adaptations of ERAS for specific patient populations.
Conclusions: Due to the low number of participants in the post-intervention group, it is recommended that further study be done in a longer time frame. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions and the continued refinement of ERAS strategies to maximize patient benefits while mitigating unintended consequences.
Sigma Membership
Tau
Type
DNP Capstone Project
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Clinical Practice Guideline(s)
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, Perioperative Care, Hospital Stay
Advisor
Christina Vejnovich
Degree
DNP
Degree Grantor
Nebraska Methodist College
Degree Year
2025
Recommended Citation
Smith, Jennifer, "Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol" (2025). Group: Nebraska Methodist College. 98.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/group_nmc/98
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Self-submission
Full Text of Presentation
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