Open AccessEnhancing the study of enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery: methodology and population-based approaches for the future
Author(s) -
Robert M. Van Haren,
Scott M. Atay
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of thoracic disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 2077-6624
pISSN - 2072-1439
DOI - 10.21037/jtd.2019.01.81
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiothoracic surgery , multidisciplinary approach , perioperative , protocol (science) , intensive care medicine , population , surgery , general surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , social science , environmental health , sociology
Achieving optimal outcomes following thoracic surgery requires a complex multidisciplinary effort spanning the entire peri-operative period. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to codify essential elements in care across all perioperative settings. As thoracic surgeons have begun to embrace ERAS, identification of optimal protocol elements and novel study endpoints is necessary. In this review we will briefly review the current available evidence for ERAS in thoracic surgery, while focusing on study methods and design. We will discuss methodology for future studies and how a population-based approach can improve the current level of evidence supporting broad implementation of ERAS to thoracic surgery.