Free Flap ERAS

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways promote an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care that facilitates faster recovery from surgery, reduces hospital length of stay, and minimizes post-operative complications. From scheduling through discharge, all phases of perioperative care are incorporated into ERAS pathways.  

ERAS Pathway: 

• Free Flap ERAS: Prior to Surgery Day Algorithm
• Free Flap ERAS: Pre-operative to Intraoperative Algorithm
• Free Flap ERAS: Postoperative to PICU Algorithm
• Free Flap ERAS: Synopsis - provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway  

 Additional tools associated with this ERAS Pathway: 

• ERAS Overview Handout – English 
• ERAS Overview Handout - Spanish 

 Inclusion and exclusion criteria: 

• Inclusion:
  • Any patient undergoing major free flap surgery  

• Exclusion:
  • Patients < 12 months of age 

 Committee members involved in the development: 

• Erin Adams, MD | Pediatric Anesthesiology | Committee Co-Chair
• Danielle ‘Dani’ Thornburg, MD | Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Co-Chair  
• Emily Weisberg, MD, FASA | Pediatric Anesthesiology | Committee Co-Chair
• Nichole Doyle, MD, FASA, FAAP | Pediatric Anesthesiology | Committee Co-Chair  
• Rachel Jacobs, MD | Pediatric Anesthesiology, Plastics Liaison | Committee Member 
• Carlos Martinez, MD, MPH | Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member
• Anne Stuedemann, MSN, RN, CPNP | Orthopaedic Surgery | Committee Member 
• Heather Sambol, RN, APRN | Pediatric Anesthesiology | Committee Member  
• Jessica Barker, BSN, RN, CCRN | Pediatric Intensive Care | Committee Member  

EBP Committee Members: 

• Todd Glenski, MD, MSHA, FASA | Anesthesiology, Evidence Based Practice
• Andrea Melanson, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice  

Publication dates: 

• Finalized date: 06/2026
• Next expected revision date: June 2029 

Concerns with content: 

If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.  

These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.