Implementation and achievements of enhanced recovery after surgery program in perioperative management of gastric cancer patients†

Abstract Objective The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program is less implemented in gastric cancer patients. The purpose of this survey is to investigate the implementation status of ERAS in perioperative period in gastric cancer. Methods This clinical observational study enrolled 329 patients between January 2020 and August 2020 in a single gastric cancer center. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: basic information, preoperative status, intraoperative status, and postoperative status of ERAS implementation in gastric cancer surgery. Results In the preoperative period, patients’ education and counseling (100%) were well adopted. Smoking cessation (34.6%), drinking cessation (36.9%), avoidance of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (24.3%), respiratory function training (11.2%), and administration of carbohydrate-rich drink before surgery (0.6%) were relatively not well adopted. During the operation, maintenance of intraoperative normothermia and fluid management (100%), as well as epidural analgesia (81.5%), were well adopted. Thromboprophylaxis was performed in 133 (40.4%) patients. In the postoperative period, early active mobilization was implemented about 9.5 h, and early ambulation was implemented about 39.5 h, after surgery. A total of 140 (42.5%) patients received prolonged prophylactic antibiotics; 268 (81.5%) patients were provided diet upon gas passage; and 320 (97.3%) patients received intravenous fluid administration more than 5 d after surgery. The practice rate of early removal of urinary catheter (0%) and nasogastric tube (15.5%) was relatively low. A total of 11 (3.3%) patients experienced postoperative complication, and 1 (0.3%) patient received unplanned reoperation. The average costs were ¥59,500, and the average hospital stay was 12 (5, 36) d. Conclusions Standard perioperative management of ERAS program in gastric cancer surgery in China still requires improvement.