Enhanced Recovery in Cardiac Surgery (ERAS)

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in cardiac surgery describes an innovative approach to improve perioperative patients' recovery after cardiac surgery. The key element of ERAS is a coordinated and interprofessional pre-, intra-, and post-operative management protocol, aiming to improve patient-focused outcomes after surgical procedures. However, the current experience with ERAS is still limited to single dedicated centers and robust scientific evidence for routine implementation is lacking.

In this Research Topic, we aim to focus on ERAS implementation in routine care in cardiac surgery, highlighting both their potential and challenges. The establishment of an interprofessional ERAS team and regional intersectoral network is a major infrastructural challenge and should be specifically addressed. Implementation protocols of ERAS-based programs, followed by preliminary experience from the initial studies are highly welcomed in this Special Edition. Recent evidence-based data on ERAS in cardiac surgery as well practical recommendations for ERAS implementation are intended to raise awareness for wider adoption of ERAS-based protocols.

This Research Topic aims to summarize the state-of-the-art ERAS approach in cardiac surgery and cardiac anesthesiology. Focused clinical trials on the ERAS approach in cardiac surgery are the primary target of this Issue, including detailed study protocols as well as systematic reviews/meta-analyses. In particular, the challenges of ERAS implementation and lessons learned from the initial pilot studies should be highlighted and are of particular value for all early adaptors. Furthermore, clinical studies focussing on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-centered outcome definitions in cardiac surgery and cardiac anesthesiology are of utmost importance in the ERAS implementation and will be strongly considered. Finally, a practical recommendation guide for ERAS implementation should summarize this stimulating article collection.

Keywords: ERAS, prehabilitation, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, PACU, interprofessional care, fast track protocol, advanced practice nurse, cardiac anesthesia, cardiac surgery, perioperative pain management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.