Effects of enhanced recovery after surgery nursing on patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) nursing protocols on patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies investigating the impact of ERAS nursing on laparoscopic colectomy patients were retrieved from databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, with a search period spanning from inception to April 1, 2025. The quality of the included studies was assessed using appropriate tools; while the overall quality was acceptable, some studies had a higher risk of bias. Data were statistically analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 7 RCTs and 7 quasi-experimental studies involving 1991 patients were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the ERAS nursing group exhibited significantly shorter hospital stays (SMD = -0.95, 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.25, P = 0.007), lower complication rates (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.40-0.64, P < 0.00001), and earlier first flatus time (SMD = -1.05, 95% CI: -1.56 to -0.54, P < 0.0001) compared to the control group. High heterogeneity (I² >75%) was observed for both hospital stay and time to first flatus. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in readmission rates between the two groups (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.56-1.81, P = 0.97). CONCLUSION: ERAS nursing significantly shortens hospital stay, reduces the incidence of postoperative complications, and promotes the recovery of gastrointestinal function (earlier time to first flatus). However, due to the high heterogeneity and varying quality of the included studies and the relatively low quality of some studies, its effect on reducing readmission rates has not been definitively established. Therefore, further research is needed to minimize bias and enhance the reliability of the data. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD420251165792).