Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in minimally invasive gynecological surgery: a review of the literature

Abstract

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a complex system of procedures that necessitates multidisciplinary patient care during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Over the last two decades, the ERAS protocol, which was initially described in colorectal surgery, has gradually expanded to other surgical specialties. Gynecological surgery is no exception, whether for benign or malignant conditions. The ERAS program's primary objective is to overcome the pathophysiological processes associated with surgical stress and to facilitate the patient's rapid recovery, while minimizing complications, hospital stays, and costs. The objectives of minimally invasive surgical procedures largely overlap with the objectives of the ERAS program. We analyzed scientific data from studies examining the ERAS system's application in minimally invasive gynecological surgery (MIGS) and present them in this review. The central question is whether the ERAS protocol can provide additional benefits beyond those inherent in minimally invasive surgical procedures.