Is recovery enhancement after gastric cancer surgery really a safe approach for elderly patients?

Table 3 Operative and postoperative complications between enhanced recovery after surgery group and conventional group

Characteristics	Studies	Participants (ERAS/conventional)	Odds ratio/mean difference (95%CI)	Heterogeneity
Operative time (min)	4	241/242	0.05 (-0.16, 0.26); P = 0.64	I2 = 25.46%; P = 0.26
Postoperative hospital stays	10	179/177	-0.51 (-0.72, -0.30); P = 0.00a	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.52
Operative blood loss (mL)	2	108/108	-0.09 (-0.36, 0.17); P = 0.49	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.41
Postoperative bleeding	2	108/107	0.47 (0.08, 2.23); P = 0.39	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.93
Time to first flatus(defecation)	4	129/127	-0.30 (-0.55, -0.06); P = 0.02a	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.74
Anastomotic leakage	5	470/324	1.10 (0.40, 3.03); P = 0.86	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.59
Intestinal obstruction	3	156/156	3.24 (1.07, 9.78); P = 0.04a	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.91
Pulmonary related complication	6	512/366	0.76 (0.43, 1.35); P = 0.35	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.87
Cardiovascular related complication	2	333/189	0.53 (0.25, 1.11); P = 0.09	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.93
Nausea and vomiting	2	106/106	4.07 (1.29, 12.84); P = 0.02a	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.52
Gastric retention	2	106/106	5.69 (2.00, 16.20); P = 0.00a	I2 = 2.46%; P = 0.31
Urinary retention	2	106/106	0.68 (0.25, 1.88); P = 0.46	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.57
Incision infection	2	106/106	2.26 (0.49, 10.41); P = 0.30	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.83
Urinary tract infection	2	106/106	0.52 (0.18, 1.46); P = 0.21	I2 = 0.00%; P = 0.86
Reoperation	3	356/210	0.46 (0.07, 3.00); P = 0.42	I2 = 29.68%; P = 0.24
Readmission	5	470/324	1.42 (0.46, 4.33); P = 0.54	I2 = 47.15%; P = 0.11

95%CI: 95% confidence intervals; ERAS: Enhanced recovery after surgery.

^aP < 0.05.