A new clinical guideline for the application of enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) in colorectal surgery: an update of the evidence levels for the measures to be applied?

Enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs), also known as fasttrack or enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, were first developed by Professor Henrik Kehlet in the 1990s with a clear objective, namely to improve the recovery of surgical patients by following a multimodal strategy aimed at reducing in-patient complications and surgical stress by way of a series of pre-, peri- and postoperative measures and care.