Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, or ERAS, is an innovative and evidence-based approach to surgery that is resulting in improved outcomes for our patients at Baptist Health. Changes in the long-established routines before, during and after surgery are helping people recover faster.

Building Strength
Leading up to surgery, patients are encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, and even quit smoking, which can slow the healing process. Getting enough protein every day helps patients build strength and prepare their bodies for surgery.

Surgery Prep
Instead of patients showing up for surgery weak and hungry from fasting after midnight, patients are now encouraged to fuel their body for surgery. That means eating and carbohydrate loading, with clear liquids allowed up to two hours before scheduled arrival time for surgery.

Surgery Recovery
Using non-narcotic pain medications and targeted anesthesia help ward off unwelcome post-surgery side effects, such as nausea, dizziness and constipation. And since IV fluids are kept to a minimum, swelling is reduced and patients are able to get up and move sooner after surgery

Why ERAS?

Since implementing ERAS protocols at Baptist Health, we’ve seen improvements that mean our patients are recovering faster and able to return to normal activities more quickly.

ERAS:

• Improves patient outcomes

• Reduces complications

• Decreases patients’ time in the hospital

After surgery, patients are:

• More alert
• Less nauseous
• Able to eat solid foods sooner
• Able to regain bowel functions faster

Which surgeries use ERAS?

Since 2017, Baptist Health has implemented ERAS protocols in several specialties, with more on the way.

• Bariatrics
• Cardiovascular
• Colorectal
• General Surgery
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Gynecology
• Head and Neck / ENT
• Neurology
• Obstetrics/Childbirth
• Orthopedics
• Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction: Breast
• Thoracic
• Urology
• Vascular

Because the ERAS approach is so successful at preparing the body for surgery, we’ve taken the pre-operative component, including no more fasting after midnight, and applied it to all appropriate surgeries at Baptist Health.

A team approach

A big part of the success of enhanced recovery is the coordination and communication between all caregivers involved. From surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and pharmacists, to physical therapists, nutritionists and more, our multi-disciplinary team works together with the patient to improve quality of care.