Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program Can Change Nutrition Care Practice: A Multicenter Experience in Elective Colorectal Surgery

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are multimodal evidenced-based care pathways for optimal recovery. Central to ERAS is integration of perioperative nutrition care into the overall management of the patient. This study describes changes to perioperative nutrition care after implementation of an ERAS program, and identifies factors that affect compliance to ERAS care elements and short-term postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery at 6 hospitals in Alberta, Canada, from 2013-2017. Compliance to nutrition care elements (nutrition risk screening, preoperative carbohydrate loading, early postoperative oral feeding, and mobilization) was recorded before ERAS implementation (pre-ERAS group, n = 487) and with ERAS implementation (ERAS group, n = 3536). Logistic regression identified factors that affect compliance to care elements, length of hospital stay (LOS), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 4023 patients were included. The rate of nutrition risk screening improved from 9% (pre-ERAS group) to 74% (ERAS group); 12% were at nutrition risk. Compliance increased for preoperative carbohydrate loading (4%-61%), early postoperative oral feeding (P  5 days (OR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.00-1.96; P = .052). Low compliance to ERAS (<70%) predicted postoperative complications (OR 2.69; 95% CI, 2.23-3.24; P < .001). CONCLUSION: ERAS implementation positively impacted the adoption of standardized perioperative nutrition care practices. Nutrition risk screening identified patients less able to comply with postoperative nutrition care elements and who had longer LOS.