Objective:

To evaluate the attitudes and perspectives of colorectal surgeons in Australia and New Zealand regarding ERAS interventions, highlighting their significance in improving surgical outcomes.

Key Findings:

• 95 out of 300 colorectal surgeons (31.7%) responded to the survey, indicating a need for broader engagement.
• Pre-operative iron infusion was ranked as the most effective ERAS intervention (IRT score = 7.82), suggesting a focus area for future guidelines.
• Minimally invasive surgery and early indwelling catheter removal were also highly rated (IRT scores = 7.77 and 7.69, respectively), reflecting current trends in surgical practice.
• Surgeons showed strong support for interventions like pre-operative smoking cessation and counselling, which could inform future ERAS protocols.

Interpretation:

The survey indicates a general consensus among colorectal surgeons on the effectiveness of certain ERAS interventions, with significant support for pre-operative iron infusion and minimally invasive techniques, underscoring the need for local guidelines.

Limitations:

• The response rate was relatively low (31.7%), which may limit the generalizability of the findings and introduce potential biases.
• The survey did not cover all potential ERAS interventions, focusing only on selected elements, which may overlook other important practices.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the need for standardized ERAS guidelines in Australia and New Zealand, reflecting the positive attitudes of surgeons towards specific interventions and the potential for improved patient outcomes.