A recent Cochrane review evaluating perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs in gynecological cancer shows that ERAS may reduce the length of postoperative hospital stay and improve early bowel function recovery compared with traditional care. Across seven randomized controlled trials involving 747 women, ERAS pathways were associated with shorter hospitalization and a lower risk of 30-day readmission, without increasing overall postoperative complications. While the review noted substantial variability and methodological concerns, the findings support ERAS as a potentially beneficial strategy for improving perioperative outcomes in this patient population.
The analysis also found very low-certainty evidence regarding mortality and participant satisfaction, and existing studies did not adequately report on quality of life outcomes. Medical expenditure did not appear to increase with ERAS pathways, though certainty was limited. Overall, ERAS programs may offer postoperative benefits without compromising safety, but stronger, well-designed clinical trials are required to confirm their clinical effectiveness in gynecological cancer surgery.