Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) and its applicability for major spine surgery.

Abstract

This article examines the relevance of applying the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) approach to patients undergoing major spinal surgery. The history of ERAS, details of the components of the approach, and the underlying rationale are explained. Evidence on outcomes achieved by using the ERAS approach in other orthopaedic and complex surgical procedures are then outlined. Data on major spinal surgery rates and current practice are reviewed and the rationale for the use of ERAS in major spinal surgery is discussed, and potential challenges to its adoption acknowledged. A thorough literature search is then undertaken to examine the use of ERAS pathways in major spinal surgery, and the results presented. The article then reviews the evidence to support the application of individual ERAS components such as patient education, multimodal pain management, surgical approach, blood loss, nutrition, and physiotherapy in major spinal surgery, and discusses the need for further robust research to be undertaken. The article concludes that given the rising costs of surgery and levels of patient dissatisfaction, an ERAS pathway that focuses on optimizing clinical procedures by adopting evidence-based practice, and improving logistics, should enable major spinal surgery patients to recover more quickly with lower rates of morbidity and improved longer term outcomes.