Il protocollo dell'ERAS Group per la chirurgia colica (17) -ERAS group 2005• Patient information: Essential before admission for surgery.• Preoperative bowel preparation: No routine oral preparation for colon resections.• Preanaesthetic medication: Not recommended.• Preoperative fasting and fluids: Patients should be allowed to drink clear fluids up to 2 h prior to initiation of anaesthesia and should receive preoperative oral carbohydrate loading.• Standard anaesthetic protocol: Intraoperative mid-thoracic epidural analgesia (local anaesthetic+low-dose opioid). Short-acting intravenous or inhalational anaesthetic agents, according to local traditions.• Prevention of intraoperative hypothermia: Warmed IV fluids and upper body air-warming device.• Thromboembolic prophylaxis: Low-dose LMWH started about 2 h after placement of epidural catheter and continued until full mobilisation.• Nasogastric decompression tubes: Not recommended.• Prophylactic antibiotics: Indicated with two drugs (anaerobic and aerobic prophylaxis) given before skin incision and single dose, may be repeated when surgery>3 h.• Incision: Short midline or transverse incisions recommended.• Drainage: Drains should not be used routinely in colonic surgery. 