Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol improves patient outcomes in free flap surgery for head and neck cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In recent years, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) guidelines have been developed to optimize pre-, intra-, and postoperative care of surgical oncology patients. The aim of this study was to compare management outcome of patients undergoing head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery with free flap reconstruction at our institution before and after the implementation of the ERAS guidelines.

Methods

This retrospective study comprised 283 patients undergoing HNC surgery with free flap reconstruction between 2013 and 2020. Patients operated before and after the implementation of the ERAS protocol in October 2017 formed the pre-ERAS group (n = 169), and ERAS group (n = 114), respectively.

Results

In the pre-ERAS group the mean length of stay (LOS) and intensive car

SUBMITTER: Nieminen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10796721 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature