Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether a modified enhanced recovery after surgery (mERAS) protocol has a positive effect on the recovery of aged patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients were selected between January 2015 and June 2016 and were randomly assigned to a control group (traditional nursing care) or an observation group (mERAS protocol). We analyzed the outcomes of the patients, including surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, mental health status, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: Altogether, 110 patients who were >60 years of age were included in the study. They were evenly divided into two groups, with 55 patients in each. For the observation group, the thoracic drainage time was 1.07±0.26 days, first jejunal feeding time was at 11.71±1.81 h, time of first postoperative flatus was at 12.00±1.75 h, and length of postoperative stay was 8.31±1.25 days. There was no anastomotic leakage in the observation group, and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection was 5.45%. All the above indexes in the observation group were better than those for the patients receiving traditional nursing care. In addition, patients in the observation group had a lower level of mental suffering (P<0.05) and higher QOL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: mERAS protocols could result in better postoperative recovery and reduce postoperative complications in aged patients undergoing esophagectomy. Hence, mERAS protocols could be useful in reducing patients' mental suffering and improving their QOL.