1. ERAS – Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
For Colorectal Procedures

2. What is ERAS?
This means… Working together as a team with healthcare professionals and the patient to helps to reduce the risk of surgical complications so the patient gets better sooner, has a better surgical experience, an aim to return to normal daily living sooner and has a shorter hospital stay.
“Enhanced recovery is a modern evidence-based approach that helps people recover more quickly after having major surgery.” – NHS Choices

3. Background in the L&D Began to implement ERAS in 2013
Currently we cover 4 specialities – Colorectal, Bariatric, Orthopaedic, Urology
Have 3 members in our team
We aim to cover a 7 day service
See patients along their journey
Work closely with all healthcare professionals to help improve patients’ surgical experience

4. Traditional vs ERAS What we did before….
Fasted patients for a long time
No real information given beforehand
Used heavy anaesthetics
Large wounds for everyone
Kept patients in bed!
Not allowed to eat or drink till patient passed wind!
Resulted in higher rates of DVT’s, chest infections and other complications
In turn, hospital stay was nearly 2 weeks!!
High re-admission rates

5. Traditional vs ERAS What we do now…..
Aim to see all patients prior to surgery
Vastly reduced fasting times
Improved surgical techniques
Get patients up and moving asap!!
Allow patients to eat and drink asap, good nutrition!
Good pain management
Work closely as a team
Follow up phone-calls
Reduced LOS in hospital – on average 5 days
Reduced re-admission rates

6. “…knowing someone was on the end of the phone to contact..”
Some patient feedback..
“The main benefit was a feeling that everything was being done to make my recovery as smooth as possible”
“If you didn’t do as you were told , then you wouldn’t be on to a winner”
“The daily goals and advice received, made a big difference to the speed of my recovery”
“…knowing someone was on the end of the phone to contact..”

7. Thank you for listening 
In summary, our evidence based ERAS programme has;
Reduced the overall length of stay
Increased patient satisfaction
Provided support to patients and staff
Raised the profile of the hospital
Coming soon….
We aim to introduce programmes for Gynae, Obstetrics, Head & Neck and next…anything is possible!
We need to increase our team to do this!
Thank you for listening 