Colorectal Surgery Resource for Healthcare Providers and Leaders
Are you looking to reduce complications and support shorter hospital stays and safer transitions after colorectal surgery? Access the Enhanced Recovery Canada™ (ERC) Clinical Pathway for Colorectal Surgery.
Based on surgical best practices, this clinical resource for colorectal surgeries provides guidance on all stages of the patient’s journey, from pre-admission to post discharge. It supports a multidisciplinary team approach and can be used by providers across the continuum of surgical care.
If implemented consistently, these strategies improve patient experience and reduce length of stay, complication rates and hospital readmissions – all valuable outcomes at a time when healthcare systems are under serious pressure.
This clinical resource was updated in 2023.
Download PathwayThis resource also includes a template for physician orders as well as a data collection and measurement resource. A complementary set of resources for patients undergoing colorectal surgery is also available.
Resources for Patients Undergoing Colorectal SurgeryWhat does this colorectal surgery resource cover?
Based on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) surgical best practices that put the quadruple aim within reach, the ERC colorectal clinical pathway is built on six core pillars:
Patient and family engagement
Nutrition management
Fluid and hydration management
Early mobility and physical activity
Surgical best practices
Pain management with fewer narcotics
Who can use this clinical pathway?
This clinical pathway has been developed for surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, other providers involved in the delivery of care of patients undergoing routine elective colorectal surgery, and healthcare leaders.
The purpose of this clinical pathway is to provide practitioners in Canada with evidence-informed strategies to improve surgical outcomes in colorectal patients.
The pathway applies to adult patients undergoing routine elective colorectal surgery performed with either open or minimally invasive routes (laparoscopic, or robotic).
What additional resources are available?
A Guide to Patient Safety Improvement
An implementation resource that can support healthcare providers using enhanced recovery guidance. Patient safety includes a substantial body of evidence, which demonstrates interventions (practices and processes) that lead to improved patient outcomes for numerous healthcare conditions.
Access Additional ResourceFluid Management for ERAS Colorectal
This 30-minute interactive learning case assessing fluid management for better patient recovery outcomes was developed in partnership with the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada and is available to all healthcare professionals. All learning modules qualify for MOC Section 3 credits.
Access Additional ResourceInterview with Dr. Henrik Kehlet
Through a series of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials initially using the model of colonic surgery, Dr. Kehlet demonstrated that modifying the perioperative surgical stress response and revising traditional surgical care could have a dramatic impact on postoperative recovery and shorten the length of hospital stay.
Access Additional ResourceAbout Enhanced Recovery Canada and the ERAS principles
Helping patients feel better and get home quicker after surgery is vital, especially given the pressures facing our healthcare system. Enhanced Recovery Canada™ (ERC) surgical pathways and patient resources reduce complications and support shorter hospital stays and safer transitions after surgery.
Access Additional Resource