A Retrospective Comparison Trial Investigating Aggregate Length of Stay Post Implementation of Seven Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols between 2015 and 2022.

(1) : Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols can create a cultural shift that will benefit patients by significantly reducing patient length of stay when compared to an equivalent group of surgical patients not following an ERAS protocol. (2) : In this retrospective study of 2236 patients in a multi-center, community-based healthcare system, matching was performed based on a multitude of variables related to demographics, comorbidities, and surgical outcomes across seven ERAS protocols. These cohorts were then compared pre and post ERAS protocol implementation. (3) : ERAS protocols significantly reduced hospital length of stay from 3.0 days to 2.1 days ( <0.0001). Additional significant outcomes included reductions in opioid consumption from 40 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) to 20 MMEs ( <0.001) and decreased pain scores on postoperative day zero (POD 0), postoperative day one (POD 1), and postoperative day two (POD 2) when stratified into mild, moderate, and severe pain ( <0.001 on all three days). (4) : ERAS protocols aggregately reduce hospital length of stay, pain scores, and opioid consumption.