Enhanced recovery after surgery: Effect on outcome of patients undergoing laparotomy at Mbarara regional referral hospital

Abstract

Objectives: Compare the length of post-operative hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative complications between patients in the ERAS group and in the conventional care group. Methods: 33 participants above 18 years of age, undergoing laparotomy, were randomly assigned to an intervention (ERAS) arm or to a control (standard surgical care) arm at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda. The ERAS and the control arm had 16 and 17 patients respectively, followed-up 14 days after surgery. Results: patients in the ERAS arm had 2.4 days (SD 0.7) of post-operative hospital stay shorter than those in the control arm, p=0.0025 (4.1±0.2 vs 6.5±0.6). 18.8% of patients in the control arm developed post-operative complications compared to 5.9% in the ERAS arm (Statistical insignificance, p=0.335). ERAS patients passed flatus eight hours earlier than patients in the control arm, and mobilisation out of bed happened 12 hours earlier in the ERAS group. Conclusion: ERAS is feasible at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, and it leads to reduced hospital stay duration and post-operative complications in laparotomy cases. Disclosure of Interest: None declared.