ERAS versus EGO

Many clichés exist about the size of the surgeon’s ego. It is certainly true that many surgeons take great pride in their skills and techniques. Any perusal of the articles in a surgical journal, or the presentations at a surgical conference will reveal the sheer prevalence of reports that such-and-such a technique or technology has improved patient outcomes. Great though these achievements are, the focus on intra-operative advances alone tends to grossly neglect the impact of something at least as important—if not more so: peri-operative care.