To investigate the effect of the application of enhanced recovery after surgery concept (ERAS) on respiratory function, gastrointestinal function, length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs of patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal carcinoma.

Eighty patients undergoing whole endoscopic esophageal cancer surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from February 2016 to February 2018 were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups, i. e. ERAS group and control group, 40 in each group. The ERAS group received preoperative ERAS concept education, respiratory function training and early postoperative nasal fluid feeding combined with enteral nutrition; while the control group received only routine admission education and nursing guidance. The incidence of pulmonary complications, the recovery time of bowel sounds, the anus exhausting time, the length of hospitalization stay, and hospitalization costs were recorded in both groups.

The incidence of pulmonary complications in ERAS group was much lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The recovery time of bowel sounds, anus exhausting time, bed-out time, and length of hospitalization stay were much shorter in ERAS group. The hospitalization cost in ERAS group was much lower than that in control group (P<0.05).

For patients undergoing radical mastectomy for esophageal cancer, the ERAS concept can effectively reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications, and shorten the recovering time of gastrointestinal function, thus save hospitalization duration and costs.