Table 3.

Enhanced recovery pathway elements used in comparative studies

Study	Preoperative				Intraoperative					Postoperative								Total number of ERP elements
	Patient education and counselling	No mechanical bowel preparation	Shorter preoperative fasting	Carbohydrate loading	Prophylactic antibiotics	Thromboembolic disease prophylaxis	Epidural/multimodal analgesia	Prevention of nausea and vomiting	Prevention of hypothermia	Early nasogastric tube removal	Early removal of urinary catheter	Early discontinuation of IV fluids	Glycemic control	Standardized perianastomotic drain management	Early oral feeding	Early mobilization	Stimulation of GI function
Porter et al[53]										√	√			√	√			4
Vanounou et al[54]	√				√	√	√			√	√			√				7
Kennedy et al[55]					√	√	√			√	√	√		√	√	√		9
Balzano et al[56]	√				√	√	√			√				√	√	√		8
Kennedy et al[57]					√	√	√			√	√	√		√	√	√		9
Nikfarjam et al[58]	√		√		√	√	√			√	√	√		√	√	√	√	12
Abu Hilal et al[59]			√			√						√		√	√	√	√	7
Braga et al[60]	√	√	√		√	√	√	√	√	√		√		√	√	√		13
Kobayashi et al[61]	√	√	√							√				√	√			6
Nussbaum et al[62]					√	√				√	√	√		√	√	√		8
Nussbaum et al[63]					√	√	√			√	√	√		√	√	√		9
Coolsen et al[64]	√		√	√	√	√	√		√	√	√	√		√	√	√	√	14
Shao et al[65]							√			√				√	√			4
Sutcliffe et al[66]	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√				√	√	√		13
Joliat et al[67]	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	17
Morales Soriano et al[68]		√	√		√		√	√	√	√	√			√	√	√		11
Richardson et al[69]	√		√	√		√				√	√	√		√	√	√		10