LAUSR

BACKGROUND We aimed to compare the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway with the standard perioperative care protocol concerning complications, postoperative length of stay and 1-year survival rate. METHODS Using a before-after cohort study design, data from patients with pancreatic head cancer, who consecutively underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, were retrospectively collected. RESULTS Compared to the control group, patients with soft pancreas in the enhanced recovery after surgery group had a lower incidence of delayed gastric emptying (36.7% vs 13.3%, P = 0.026) and respiratory complications (46.7% vs 20.0%, P = 0.028), and shorter postoperative length of stay (All: 10.9 ± 3.4 d vs13.5 ± 3.8 d, P = 0.002; Soft: 11.2 ± 3.8 d vs14.0 ± 4.5 d, P = 0.001). The 1-year survival rates were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION The enhanced recovery after surgery pathways can significantly reduce the incidence of certain surgical complications and decrease the postoperative length of stay. It does not affect 1-year survival.