RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are associated with improved management, reduced hospital stays, and lower complication rates. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of ERAS on mean length of stay (LOS) and postoperative morbidity in breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap (LDF) compared with conventional recovery program. PATIENTS AND METHOD: All patients operated by LDF between December 2014 and October 2020: those managed before April 2018, when the ERAS protocol was introduced, were included in the "no ERAS" group, and beyond in the "ERAS" group. RESULTS: Out of 193 patients, 129 were included in the "ERAS" group and 64 in the "no ERAS" group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in LOS (4.2 ± 1.5 days in the "ERAS" group vs. 5.4 ± 1.9 days in the "no ERAS" group; p < 0.001), high-grade complications at 30 days (9.3% in the "ERAS" group vs. 25% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.01), reintervention rate (13.9% vs. 26.6%, respectively; p = 0.02), and 30-day rehospitalization rate (6.2% in the "ERAS" group vs. 15.6% in the "no ERAS" group; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The ERAS protocol has a positive impact on breast reconstruction with LDF without generating additional adverse effects. These results support the democratization of these programs for breast reconstruction surgery.