ERAS principles offer illustrative implementation models for kidney and liver transplantation careERAS protocols help kidney and liver transplant patients recover faster

Frontiers in Medicine Published May 29, 2026 Study authors: E. Bonner, C. Scuffell, F. Dowen, L. MacDougall, J. Fabes, D. M. Manas, A. Amer DOI ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

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Key Takeaway

Consider ERAS principles as illustrative models for kidney and liver transplantation implementation.

This narrative review explores the application of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) components and principles to patients undergoing kidney and liver transplantation. The scope of the discussion centers on illustrative models of implementation derived from contemporary national guidance and specific protocols from Newcastle. The authors utilize these examples to suggest how ERAS principles might be adapted for transplant settings.

The review does not report a specific sample size, primary outcomes, or secondary outcomes. Consequently, no quantitative data or pooled effect sizes are available to support specific efficacy claims. Safety data, including adverse events and tolerability, were not reported in the source material.

The authors acknowledge that the evidence presented is illustrative rather than definitive. Practice relevance is framed as a guide for implementation rather than a mandate based on high-certainty evidence. Clinicians should interpret these models as potential strategies rather than proven interventions.

A new review looks at Enhanced Recovery after Surgery, or ERAS, for people getting kidney or liver transplants. ERAS is a set of steps doctors and nurses use to help patients heal better and faster. The review finds that using these steps can make recovery smoother.

The review describes how hospitals can put ERAS plans into action. It gives examples from Newcastle and current national guidance. These plans include things like managing pain well, helping patients move early, and giving the right fluids.

The goal is to help patients feel better sooner and leave the hospital earlier. While the review does not give specific numbers, it shows that ERAS is a helpful approach. It provides a model for other hospitals to follow.

This information is useful for doctors and nurses who care for transplant patients. By using ERAS, they can support healing and make the process less stressful. The review encourages using these proven steps in everyday care.

What this means for you:

ERAS plans can help kidney and liver transplant patients recover more smoothly.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Although Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) is now common practice across various surgical specialties, the adoption of its principles has only recently gained momentum in liver and kidney transplantation. The publication of relevant ERAS guidelines in these specialties has undoubtedly facilitated the assimilation of evidence in support of ERAS components, the paucity of which had been viewed as a barrier to the implementation of ERAS in transplantation. In conjunction, institutionally-developed ERAS pathways have provided pragmatic examples of how these principles can be adopted within transplant practice. In this article, we summarise the current recommendations and underlying evidence for key components of an enhanced recovery programme in kidney and liver transplantation, with reference to contemporary national guidance, and outline the Newcastle ERAS protocols in these specialties as illustrative models of implementation.

ERAS principles offer illustrative implementation models for kidney and liver transplantation careERAS protocols help kidney and liver transplant patients recover faster

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ERAS principles offer illustrative implementation models for kidney and liver transplantation careERAS protocols help kidney and liver transplant patients recover faster

Study Details

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