Objective To explore the recent clinical effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Methods 80 patients who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Department of General Surgery in Jinhu County People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022 were selected and divided into ERAS group (n=40) and control group (n=40) based on different intervention methods. The surgical time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative first meal time, first exhaust time, first ambulant time, urinary catheter indwelling time, hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses, incidence of complications after surgery, and unplanned rehospitalization within 30 days were compared between the two groups of patients.

Results There were no significant statistical differences between the two groups in terms of surgical time, intraoperative bleeding volume, and number of lymph node dissection. The ERAS group had shorter first eating time, first exhaust time, first ambulant time, and indwelling catheter time than the control group, with statistical differences (P < 0.05). There were no serious complications such as anastomotic fistula, anastomotic bleeding, postoperative intraperitoneal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, duodenal stump fistula in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications.

Conclusions The application of ERAS in the perioperative period of laparoscopic distal radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer is safe and feasible, and improves the recovery of the patients.