. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Dec 1.

Published in final edited form as: Br J Surg. 2015 Sep 14;102(13):1594–1602. doi: 10.1002/bjs.9918

Table 2.

Recommended reporting elements for studies comparing ER to traditional pathways

1. Tabular reporting of all elements included in the examined ER pathway and corresponding elements of the traditional pathway.

2. Explain all ER elements clearly with particular attention to reporting specific algorithms and pathways used in clinical management where applicable (e.g. IV fluid rates and criteria for goal directed fluid therapy; epidural/regional level, single injection vs. infusion/catheter placement, medications/concentrations used, duration of infusion; analgesia escalation strategies; drain placement algorithms).

3. Report compliance for all elements named as part of the ER protocol.

4. When failure of an ER element is possible, it should be reported and explained, including adverse events that may be related to an ER element.

5. When length of stay is used as an outcome measure, discharge criteria or the lack thereof should be reported. If a substitute for length of stay such as “readiness for discharge” is used, there should be a report of actual length of stay and reasons for non-medical extension of hospitalisation listed.

6. When morbidity is used as an outcome measure, efforts should be made to grade complications and stratify them according to severity using a standard system^{69, 70}

ER = Enhanced Recovery