A combination of laparoscopic approach and ERAS pathway optimizes outcomes and cost for adrenalectomy

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway comprises a set of comprehensive elements which have been reported to enhance patient postoperative prognosis. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ERAS in patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenal resection. A retrospective review was performed to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism between the pre-ERAS period and the ERAS era. Data was generated from the traditional surgical period (September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019) and the ERAS period (September 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020), respectively. Forty-seven adrenalectomy patients were enrolled (pre-ERAS, n = 21; ERAS, n = 26) in analysis. The results revealed that both total length of hospital stay and postoperative length of stay decreased in the ERAS period compared with the pre-ERAS period (14.19 ± 4.96 vs 11.27 ± 4.37, p = 0.015; 5.43 ± 1.08 vs 3.31 ± 0.97, p < 0.001). The medical expenses decreased significantly in the ERAS group (p < 0.05). While, the surgery-related complications, including urinary retention, retroperitoneal effusion and gastrointestinal discomfort, possessed no statistical difference. The ERAS pathway was safe and feasible for adrenalectomy in patients with primary aldosteronism. The ERAS could promote patients to quickly recover from the postoperative status to a physiological state, and decrease the length of hospitalization and medical cost after surgery.