Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for vascular surgery: an evidence map and scoping review

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) interventions aim to improve patient outcomes. Vascular surgery patients have unique requirements and it is unclear which ERAS interventions are supported by an evidence base.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify ERAS randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the biomedical or nursing literature. We assessed interventions for applicability to vascular surgery and differentiated interventions given at preadmission, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative surgery stages. We documented the research in an evidence map.

Results: We identified 76 relevant RCTs. Interventions were mostly administered in preoperative (23 RCTs; 30%) or intraoperative surgery stages (35 RCTs; 46%). The majority of studies reported mortality outcomes (44 RCTs; 58%), but hospital (27 RCTs; 35%) and intensive care unit (9 RCTs; 12%) length of stay outcomes were less consistently described.

Conclusion: The ERAS evidence base is growing but contains gaps. Research on preadmission interventions and more consistent reporting of key outcomes is needed.