Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Sep 24, 2024; 15(9): 1122-1125
Published online Sep 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i9.1122
Optimizing postsurgical recovery for elderly patients with gastric cancer
Adamu D Isah, Zakari Shaibu, Sheng-Chun Dang
Adamu D Isah, Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
Adamu D Isah, Zakari Shaibu, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 202013, Jiangsu Province, China
Sheng-Chun Dang, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Adamu D Isah and Zakari Shaibu.
Author contributions: Isah AD, Shaibu ZK, and Dang SC contributed to the conceptualization and writing of the manuscript, ensuring its accuracy and intellectual integrity; all of the authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by the Jiangsu Province 2023 Scientific Research Program on Elderly Health, No. LKZ2023012; and the Zhenjiang City 2023 Science and Technology Innovation Funding Project, No. SS2023011.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sheng-Chun Dang, MD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Surgeon, Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, No. 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang 212001, Jiangsu Province, China. dscgu@163.com
Received: March 25, 2024
Revised: August 7, 2024
Accepted: August 16, 2024
Published online: September 24, 2024
Processing time: 157 Days and 1.4 Hours
Abstract

Based on a recent study by Li et al, this editorial examines the significance of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Cancer-related mortality, which is overwhelmingly caused by gastric cancer, calls for effective treatment strategies. Despite advances in the field of oncology, conventional postoperative care often results in prolonged hospital stays and increased complications. The aim of ERAS is to expedite recovery, reduce surgical stress, and improve patient satisfaction. The study of Li et al showed that, compared to traditional care, ERAS significantly reduces mortality risk, shortens hospital stays, and decreases postoperative complications. These findings support the widespread implementation of ERAS protocols in surgical practice to enhance patient outcomes and healthcare value.

Keywords: Enhance recovery after surgery; Gastric cancer; Elderly; Postoperative care; Surgical recovery

Core Tip: This article examines the safety and effectiveness of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in elderly patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. ERAS results in reduced mortality risk, short hospital stays, and few postoperative complications, thus offering a promising approach to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.