Postoperative complications are main reason for noncompliance with enhanced recovery after surgery program in patients undergoing hepatectomy and pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are reported to improve postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing a routine protocol and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatic and pancreatic resections at our institution. METHODS: A total of 99 consecutive patients at a single institution managed with a similar ERAS protocol were divided into the “early” (50 patients) and “late” (49 patients) cohorts. Both cohorts were statistically identical in demographics and range of surgical procedures performed. Postoperative complications, readmission, reoperation rates, and length of stay were analyzed. Categorical variables were statistically compared using Fisher's exact test and continuous variables using t‐test and Mann–Whitney U‐test when appropriate. RESULTS: There were 32 hepatectomies/18 pancreatectomies in the “early” cohort and 22 hepatectomies/29 pancreatectomies in the “late” cohort. The overall complication rate was 38.8%, with a 30‐day readmission rate and reoperation rate of 16.1 and 5%, respectively. There was one mortality (1%). Group‐specific overall complication rate (40 vs 38.7%, P = 0.8), readmission rate (20 vs 12.2%, P = 0.4), reoperation rate (6 vs 4%, P = 1.0), and mortality (2 vs 0%, P = 1.0) were not statistically significant between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar rates of adherence to the established ERAS 24 protocol, there was no improvement in median length of stay (7 days) between the “early” and “late” groups. The only reason for noncompliance with the ERAS protocol was development of surgery‐related complications.