Enhanced recovery after colorectal surgery: principles and current practice

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes have become an integral part of current management of surgical patients. These have evolved over the years with the key philosophy of improving patient outcomes by combining the best possible preoperative optimization, surgical and anaesthetic techniques and postoperative care, with the specific aim of minimizing disturbance to normal physiology. This article provides an overview of the evidence to support these concepts and provides a framework for setting up an effective ERAS programme for colorectal surgery.