Enhanced recovery after surgery reduces length of stay after colorectal surgery in a small rural hospital in Ontario.

Introduction: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes include pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative clinical pathways to improve quality of patient care while reducing length of stay (LOS) and readmission. This study assessed the feasibility and outcomes of an ERAS protocol for colorectal surgery implemented over 2 years in a small, resource-challenged rural hospital.

Methods: A prospective cohort study used retrospectively matched controls to assess the effect of ERAS on LOS in patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a small rural hospital in northern Ontario, Canada.