Adapted ERAS Pathway vs. Standard Care in Patients with Perforated Duodenal Ulcer—a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ERAS pathways in patients undergoing emergency simple closure of perforated duodenal ulcer (PDU). Methods This single-center, prospective, open-labeled, superiority, RCT was carried out from August 2014 to July 2016. Patients of PDU undergoing open simple closure were randomized preoperatively in 1:1 ratio into standard care and adapted ERAS group. Patients with refractory shock, ASA class ≥3, and perforation size ≥1 cm were excluded. Primary outcome was the length of hospitalization (LOH). Secondary outcomes were functional recovery parameters and morbidity. Results Forty-nine and 50 patients were included in standard care and ERAS group, respectively. Patients in ERAS group had a significantly early functional recovery (days) for the time to first flatus (1.47 ± 0.18; p