Epidural and spinal anaesthesia and enhanced recovery: the anaesthetist’s contribution

The role of the anaesthetist is central to the implementation of enhanced recovery programmes. These programmes contribute to improved outcomes in both conventional and laparoscopic colorectal surgery. In contrast to systemic opioid use, epidural analgesia offers benefits including superior postoperative pain control, improved respiratory function and a reduction in postoperative ileus after major abdominal surgery. These advantages have established epidural analgesia as the preferred mode of pain control within an enhanced recovery programme. Spinal anaesthesia has also been used for pain control in colorectal surgery.