Table 2_Effect of an enhanced recovery after surgery-based multidisciplinary perioperative care pathway in children undergoing laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac.docx

Aim<p>To evaluate an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)-based perioperative care pathway in children undergoing laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac.</p>Methods<p>This prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 children with inguinal hernia who underwent laparoscopic high ligation of the hernia sac between March 2023 and April 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to routine perioperative care (control group, n = 60) or routine care plus an ERAS-based multidisciplinary perioperative pathway (study group, n = 60).

The primary outcome was postoperative hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were recovery of bowel sounds, time to first passage of flatus, time to first oral intake, in-hospital complications, and parental satisfaction. Pain, restlessness, PSQI, and Barthel Index measures were analyzed separately as purely exploratory outcomes.</p>Results<p>Mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.26 days in the study group and 6.37 days in the control group [mean difference, −2.11 days; 95% confidence interval (CI), −2.53–−1.69; Cohen's d = −1.82; P < 0.001].