This study sought to investigate the effects of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program on postoperative recovery and nutritional status in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic surgery. A total of 37 patients were included: 19 in the experimental group and 18 in the control group. The experimental group was supplemented with carbohydrate drinks before and after surgery, and the control group was maintained with fasting and water intake in the traditional method. Both care management and nutrition education were implemented for both groups. Patients were evaluated for physical condition, clinical indicators, blood tests, pain, length of stay, nutritional status, and nutrient intake. Use of the ERAS program for the experimental group resulted in shorter length of stay (p = 0.006), less pain (p < 0.001), and a lower rate of malnutrition (p = 0.014) compared with controls. In conclusion, carbohydrate drinks provide great advantages by reducing discomfort, such as pain or thirst, during fasting in patients after colon cancer surgery, helping patients to eat comfortably and actively, minimizing insulin resistance, maintaining nitrogen balance, and reducing infection and anastomosis leakage. For use of ERAS as a standardized program, repeated and expanded research is needed, and a Korean-style ERAS should be prepared by using this approach for various diseases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Complications and length of stay after enhanced recovery after surgery compared to conventional care in colorectal cancer patients in Northern Italy
  Massimiliano Fabozzi, Federica Mereu, Francesco Marinelli, Isabella Bisceglia, Maurizio Zizzo, Andrea Morini, Fortunato Morabito, Magda Zanelli, Antonino Neri, Carmine Pinto, Lucia Mangone
  Frontiers in Surgery.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Differentially expressed miR-4310 functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer
  Ziwei Jiang, Peiling Yi, Jinping You, Erwei Cai
  Technology and Health Care.2024; 32(2): 1043.     CrossRef
• Clinical study of enhanced recovery after surgery in laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis
  Zhu-Lin Li, Hua-Chong Ma, Yong Yang, Jian-Jun Chen, Zhen-Jun Wang
  World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.2024; 16(3): 816.     CrossRef
• Thoracic day surgery versus thoracic inpatient surgery for treatment of patients with lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Cheng Shen, Guowei Che
  Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Is Still Powerful for Colorectal Cancer Patients in COVID-19 Era
  Li Tan, Dong Peng, Yong Cheng
  Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques.2023; 33(3): 257.     CrossRef