The effects of ERAS protocols on patient outcomes in cardiyovaskular surgery clinic

A randomized controlled experimental study has been conducted to determine the effects of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols on patient outcomes in the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic. The study has been carried out between October 2024 and May 2025 at the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital. The sample has consisted of 25 patients in the ERAS group and 25 patients in the control group. For patients in the ERAS group, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol has been initiated at the time the surgical decision has been made, through direct consultation with the patient. Follow-up has been maintained for one month following discharge. The control group has received standard care and treatment. Data have been collected by the researcher using face-to-face interviews and patient observation, as well as telephone interviews at the time of discharge. The collected data have been coded and analyzed using a statistical software package. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean), repeated measures analysis, independent samples t-test, and correlation analysis have been performed. The reliability of the scales used in the study has been evaluated by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The findings have shown a statistically significant difference in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery group in terms of mean duration of surgery, extubation time, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and the number of days from hospital ward to home discharge (p<0.05). In addition, postoperative state anxiety scores, pain levels, incidence of nausea, and occurrence of delirium have been found to be significantly lower in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The incidence of symptoms associated with cardiovascular surgery has also been observed to be significantly lower in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery group than in the control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery is recommended, as these protocols are associated with reduced surgery duration, shorter extubation and Intensive Care Unit stay times, earlier discharge from the hospital, lower levels of anxiety and postoperative pain, reduced incidence of nausea and surgery-related symptoms, and an overall improvement in the quality of recovery.