Application of enhanced recovery after surgery in minimally invasive colorectal surgery

ERAS combines modern anesthesia, pain control, and nutritional support technologies, and contains a series of evidence-based perioperative optimization measures, including preoperative preparation, intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative care, to reduce surgical stress and enhance recovery. Several clinical studies and meta-analysis have demonstrated that ERAS can accelerate postoperative rehabilitation in colorectal patients. In addition, minimally invasive colorectal surgery has the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, and faster postoperative recovery, compared with open surgery. It has become the standard operation for colon resection. Recently 3D laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgery, which overcomes limitations of conventional laparoscopic surgery, is increasingly used. Therefore, whether ERAS combined with minimally invasive colorectal surgery causes a cumulative advantage receives much concern. A number of studies and meta-analysis have demonstrated that ERAS combined with laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery can shorten the length of hospital stay and reduce the incidence of complications, as the best perioperative plan for elective colorectal surgery.