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NCT Number: NCT07783204

ERAS Compliance and Hospital Stay After Open Heart Surgery

This prospective observational study will evaluate the association between compliance with an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol and length of hospital stay in 120 adults undergoing elective open heart surgery. Secondary outcomes will include nutritional status, postoperative complications, intensive care unit stay, 30-day readmission, and mortality.

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Key information

Conditions

Cardiac Surgery Frailty Nutritional Risk Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Bursa City Hospital

Bursa, Nilüfer, 16110, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

CONTACT

[email protected]

05379492799

About this study

This single-center, prospective observational study will include 120 adults undergoing elective open heart surgery. Participants will receive routine perioperative care without any research-specific intervention. ERAS compliance will be calculated and classified as high (≥80%), moderate (60-79%), or low (<60%). The primary outcome will be length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes will include changes in NRS-2002 and PNI, postoperative complications, intensive care unit stay, 30-day readmission, and mortality.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 to 85 years
  • Scheduled to undergo elective open heart surgery through median sternotomy under general anesthesia
  • Able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Emergency cardiac surgery
  • Preoperative total parenteral nutrition
  • End-stage renal disease or severe hepatic failure
  • Uncontrolled metabolic disease, including uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension
  • Active infection
  • Cognitive or mental impairment preventing valid informed consent
  • Pregnancy, suspected pregnancy, or breastfeeding

Treatment and study plan

ERAS Protocol Compliance Assessment

Other

Compliance with applicable preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative ERAS components will be recorded without altering routine clinical care. Each implemented component will be scored as 1 and each non-implemented component as 0. Overall compliance will be calculated as the percentage of applicable components implemented. No study-specific therapeutic intervention will be assigned.

Primary outcomes

  1. Length of Hospital Stay

    Time frame: From the date of surgery to hospital discharge, up to 60 days

    Length of hospital stay will be defined as the number of calendar days from the date of surgery to hospital discharge. The duration will be calculated for each participant and compared among the high, moderate, and low ERAS compliance cohorts. A shorter hospital stay indicates earlier postoperative recovery and discharge.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Prognostic Nutritional Index

    Time frame: From the preoperative assessment to 48 hours after surgery

    The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) will be calculated as: (10 × serum albumin [g/dL]) + (0.005 × total lymphocyte count [/mm³]). Higher scores indicate better nutritional and immunological status. The change from the preoperative value to the postoperative 48-hour value will be compared among the ERAS compliance cohorts.

  2. Incidence of Postoperative Complications

    Time frame: From surgery until hospital discharge, up to 30 days

    Number and percentage of participants who develop at least one postoperative complication, including infection, atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury, or respiratory complications. Complications will be identified from routine clinical records and compared among the ERAS compliance cohorts.

  3. Change in Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 Score

    Time frame: From the preoperative assessment to 48 hours after surgery

    Nutritional risk will be assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002). The score incorporates impaired nutritional status, disease severity, and an additional point for participants aged 70 years or older. Total scores range from 0 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater nutritional risk. A score of 3 or higher indicates the presence of nutritional risk. The primary outcome is the change in NRS-2002 score from the preoperative assessment to 48 hours after surgery. Changes will be compared among the high, moderate, and low ERAS compliance cohorts.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

EMRE ULUSOY, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

05379492799

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bursa City Hospital

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Association of Compliance With the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol With Length of Hospital Stay, Nutritional Status, and Clinical Outcomes After Open Heart Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Acronym: ERAS-CARD

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 24, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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