Thyroidectomy is generally considered a low-to-moderate risk operation; however, postoperative pain, nausea/vomiting, and prolonged hospital stays remain common issues. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways aim to optimize perioperative care and accelerate recovery. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a standardized ERAS pathway in patients undergoing elective thyroidectomy. The prospective ERAS cohort is compared with a historical control group receiving conventional care to assess the impact on the length of hospital stay, postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and complication rates.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
143
This incorporates standardized preoperative counseling, reduced fasting, multimodal opioid-sparing analgesia, total intravenous anesthesia, selective drain use, early oral intake and mobilization, and PTH-guided calcium supplementation
This often involves prolonged preoperative fasting, opioid-based analgesia, and delayed mobilization
Surgical Oncology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University
Asyut, Asyut Governorate, Egypt
Length of hospital stay
Hours from surgery end to discharge
Time frame: Up to 30 days post-surgery
Postoperative pain scores
Mean Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11; 0 = no pain to 10 = worst imaginable pain) at rest in 24 hours. NRS scores are categorized as mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), or severe (7-10).
Time frame: Assessed in the first 24 hours postoperatively
Total opioid consumption
Oral Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)
Time frame: Within first 24 hours
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
Incidence of PONV
Time frame: Up to 24 hours postoperatively
Rate of postoperative hypocalcemia
Biochemical and symptomatic occurrences
Time frame: First 30 days from the surgery
30-day unplanned readmission rate
Number of unplanned readmissions
Time frame: Up to 30 days postoperative
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.