To explore the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) management on the early recovery of elderly patients undergoing ovarian cancer staging surgery.

We selected 82 elderly patients who underwent staging surgery for ovarian cancer at Yuebei People's Hospital, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province from March 2018 to March 2021 and divided them into an observation group and a control group. The observation group was managed by ERAS, and the control group was managed by routine perioperative management. The time to first exhaust, time to ambulation, catheter indwelling time, and hospital stay were recorded for the two groups of patients; mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores and stress indicators [C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol (Cor)] were compared at 1 d preoperatively and 12 h and 24 h postoperatively, and international numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were compared at 12 h and 24 h postoperatively.

The time to first exhaust, time to ambulation, catheter indwelling time, and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05 each). The MMSE scores at 12 h and 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower than those at 1 d preoperatively in both groups (P＜0.05 each); these scores were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05 each). Serum CRP and Cor levels at 12 h and 24 h postoperatively were significantly higher than those at 1 d preoperatively in both groups (P＜0.05 each); these scores were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05 each). The NRS scores at 12 h and 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P＜0.05 each).

ERAS management has a good effect in patients undergoing ovarian cancer staging surgery, which can promote early postoperative recovery and reduce stress reaction and pain.