Association between enrollment in an enhanced recovery program for colorectal cancer surgery and long-term recurrence and survival.

Introduction: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs have been shown to minimize the surgical inflammatory response in colorectal cancer. Our objective was to determine the association between an ERAS program for colorectal cancer surgery and oncologic recurrence and survival.

Methods: A before-after intervention study was designed, including patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between November 2010 and March 2016. Cox hazard regression analysis was performed per cumulative year of follow-up to evaluate the association between ERAS program exposure and overall survival. Subgroup analysis was performed by cancer stage (low [I/II] vs. advanced [III/IV]).

Results: In total, 646 patients were included, of which 339 were pre-ERAS and 307 were ERAS. Our overall median compliance rate with ERAS interventions was 90% (interquartile range: 85%-95%). Overall survival rates were higher in the ERAS group within the first 2 years after surgery (89.2% vs.  83.2%; p = 0.04). Multivariable analysis revealed that the ERAS enrollment was associated with a significantly lower risk in 5-year oncologic recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-0.94; p = 0.03) and higher 3-year survival (aHR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.93; p = 0.03) among patients with advanced cancer stage compared to pre-ERAS counterparts.

Conclusions: Patients with advanced colorectal cancer were less likely to suffer oncologic recurrence when managed during the ERAS period.