Anesth Pain Med.  2024 Jan;19(1):24-34. 10.17085/apm.23096.

Challenging issues of implementing enhanced recovery after surgery programs in South Korea

• Yoon SH
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 2552854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.23096

Abstract

This review discusses the challenges of implementing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs in South Korea. ERAS is a patient-centered perioperative care approach that aims to improve postoperative recovery by minimizing surgical stress and complications. While ERAS has demonstrated significant benefits, its successful implementation faces various barriers such as a lack of manpower and policy support, poor communication and collaboration among perioperative members, resistance to shifting away from outdated practices, and patient-specific risk factors. This review emphasizes the importance of understanding these factors to tailor effective strategies for successful ERAS implementation in South Korea’s unique healthcare setting. In this review, we aim to shed light on the current status of ERAS in South Korea and identify key barriers. We hope to encourage Korean anesthesiologists to take a leading role in adopting the ERAS program as the standard for perioperative care. Ultimately, our goal is to improve the surgical outcomes of patients using this proactive approach.

Keyword

Anesthesiologists; Enhanced Recovery After Surgery; Perioperative care; Perioperative medicine; Quality of healthcare; Surgery

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. A schematic diagram describing the relationship between interprofessional collaboration and patient recovery after surgery. When there is considerable distance and limited interconnection among professions, surgical patients face a higher risk of “falling” into perioperative stress until they reach recovery (above). Conversely, with robust interprofessional collaboration and communication, patients can minimize exposure to perioperative stress and achieve faster and enhanced recovery (below).

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