Volume 30, Issue 168, February 2026

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols in Oncologic Surgery: Current Evidence and Clinical Outcomes – A Systematic Review

Gabriela Szubert^1♦, Marta Ciszewska², Kacper Kopeć³, Małgorzata Gasińska-Franas⁴

¹Medical University of Lodz, Al. Tadeusza Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
²Medical University of Lodz, Al. Tadeusza Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
³Department of Hematology, Copernicus Memorial Hospital, 93-513 Lodz, Poland
⁴Medical University of Lodz, Al. Tadeusza Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Gabriela Szubert, Medical University of Lodz, Al. Tadeusza Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland

ABSTRACT

Unfortunately, cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Surgical resection plays a crucial role, especially in the case of solid tumors. This poses a significant challenge for oncological surgeons, as many patients undergoing cancer surgery are elderly and suffer from numerous comorbidities, malnutrition, and anemia, which lead to complications despite the success of the tumor removal procedure itself. These complications most often involve postoperative complications and prolonged hospitalization. In the past, prolonged fasting, delayed mobilization, and, as a result, longer hospital stays were used to improve the health of cancer patients. However, recent evidence has shown that these procedures are inappropriate and can even negatively impact recovery without providing clear clinical benefits. This paper discusses the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols developed by the ERAS Society and cites scientific evidence demonstrating improvements in the health of patients who have undergone these procedures.

Keywords: ERAS, enhanced recovery, oncologic surgery, and cancer surgery

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e36ms3817

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i168.e36ms3817

Published: 21 February 2026