Adapted Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for African and low-resource surgical settings, including colorectal, cesarean, and emergency laparotomy pathways.
Preoperative
- Counseling and medical optimization
- Carbohydrate loading, where feasible
- No prolonged fasting and no routine bowel preparation
Intraoperative
- Goal-directed fluid therapy
- Multimodal, opioid-sparing analgesia
- Minimally invasive approach where possible
Postoperative
- Early mobilization, within 24 hours
- Early oral intake, within 24 hours
- Early removal of drains and tubes
- PONV prophylaxis and control
These protocols are adapted from the ERAS Society’s international guidelines for the resource realities of African hospitals. For the full international guideline set, see the ERAS Society below.
Printable checklists, facilitator guides, and training slide decks are available on the Resources page.