Empowering Mothers Through Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Section (ERACS): A Comparative Study on Recovery Quality and Patient Satisfaction

ObjectiveEnhanced Recovery After Cesarean Section (ERACS) is a fast post-cesarean recovery approach consisting of three stages; preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages. The study aimed to determine whether the ERACS protocol, which promotes faster recovery following elective cesarean sections, improves final patient results.MethodsThis prospective randomized controlled open label study was carried out on 106 pregnant females with elective cesarean section were classified into 2 equal groups: Group A (ERACS protocol): perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery recommendations and Group B (traditional anesthetic and surgical techniques): conventional process of cesarean delivery. The primary outcome was the Obstetric Quality of Recovery -11 (ObsQoR-11) at the time of discharge. The secondary outcomes were assessment of postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) impact score, total postoperative opioid consumption, presence of ileus, time needed to reach criteria of discharge and overall patient satisfaction.ResultsSubjects in group A reported significantly higher levels compared to those in group B on the ObsQoR-11 scale (P<0.001). Regarding VAS, a significant reduction in the pain assessment between group A and group B (p<0.01) postoperatively was detected. The POVN impact sore at 0, 6 and time of discharge were significantly reduced in group A in comparison with group B (p<0.01). There was a significant decrease in group A than B in opioid consumption, ileus incidence and time to reach criteria of discharge. Overall patient satisfaction significantly increased in group A compared to group B.ConclusionsImplementing ERACS significantly had positive maternal outcomes evidenced by higher total ObsQoR-11, lower pain score, PONV, lower opioid consumption, less ileus, and time of discharge, as well as averall patient satisfaction.