• Yulong Tian, Shougen Cao, Xiaodong Liu, Leping Li, Qingsi He, Lixin Jiang, Xinjian Wang, Xianqun Chu, Hao Wang, Lijian Xia, Yinlu Ding, Weizheng Mao, Xizeng Hui, Yiran Shi, Huanhu Zhang, Zhaojian Niu, Zequn Li, Haitao Jiang, Henrik Kehlet, and Yanbing Zhou.
• Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
• Ann. Surg. 2022 Jan 1; 275 (1): e15e21e15-e21.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the effects of ERAS and conventional programs on short-term outcomes after LDG.Summary Of Background DataCurrently, the ERAS program is broadly applied in surgical areas. Although several benefits of LDG with the ERAS program have been covered, high-level evidence is still limited, specifically in advanced gastric cancer.MethodsThe present study was designed as a randomized, multicenter, unblinded trial. The enrollment criteria included histologically confirmed cT2-4aN0-3M0 gastric adenocarcinoma. Postoperative complications, mortality, readmission, medical costs, recovery, and laboratory outcomes were compared between the ERAS and conventional groups.ResultsBetween April 2019 and May 2020, 400 consecutive patients who met the enrollment criteria were enrolled. They were randomly allocated to either the ERAS group (n = 200) or the conventional group (n = 200). After excluding patients who did not undergo surgery or gastrectomy, 370 patients were analyzed. The patient demographic characteristics were not different between the 2 groups. The conventional group had a significantly longer allowed day of discharge and postoperative hospital stay (6.96 vs 5.83 days, P < 0.001; 8.85 vs 7.27 days, P < 0.001); a longer time to first flatus, liquid intake and ambulation (3.37 vs 2.52 days, P < 0.001; 3.09 vs 1.13 days, P < 0.001; 2.85 vs 1.38 days, P < 0.001, respectively); and higher medical costs (6826 vs 6328 $, P = 0.027) than the ERAS group. Additionally, patients in the ERAS group were more likely to initiate adjuvant chemotherapy earlier (29 vs 32 days, P = 0.035). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications or in the mortality or readmission rates. Regarding laboratory outcomes, the procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels on postoperative day 3 were significantly lower and the hemoglobin levels on postoperative day 5 were significantly higher in the ERAS group than in the conventional group.ConclusionThe ERAS program provides a faster recovery, a shorter postoperative hospitalization length, and lower medical costs after LDG without increasing complication and readmission rates. Moreover, enhanced recovery in the ERAS group enables early initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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