ERAS Istanbul 2025 — Meeting Highlights

From Prof. Daniel Engelman, President, ERAS Cardiac Society
With a message of support from Chirojit Mukherjee, President, EACTAIC

The Joint ERAS meeting in Istanbul set a new benchmark for multidisciplinary collaboration in perioperative care. With a strong focus on cardiac surgery, anaesthesia, and enhanced recovery, the sessions brought together leaders and innovators across specialties, reaffirming the power of shared expertise to transform patient outcomes.

Key Themes and Takeaways

Organised by ERAS Türkiye, the ERAS Cardiac Society, MiECTIS, and VFPM, the meeting united anaesthesiologists, surgeons, intensivists, perfusionists, nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, lab scientists, and social workers. The message was unanimous: enhanced recovery is a collective effort. When any specialty operates in isolation, patients ultimately bear the cost.

The scientific programme highlighted refined bypass strategies, advanced extracorporeal circuits, and minimally invasive approaches that reduce surgical trauma and ICU time. These are no longer cutting-edge curiosities— they are shaping best practice. Anaesthetists must continue leading efforts to manage inflammation, perfusion–anaesthesia interactions, and hemodynamic control during these evolving interventions.

Case studies and posters showcased real-world application of new tools for depth-of-anaesthesia monitoring, multimodal analgesia, fluid management, and recovery protocols. Innovation is already being implemented across institutions—evidence is no longer stuck in journals; it’s reaching the patient.

• Integrated enhanced recovery in cardiac surgery demands close alignment between anaesthesia, surgery, perfusion, nursing, and rehabilitation.
• Anaesthetists must develop fluency in extracorporeal technologies, including circuit dynamics and inflammatory modulation.
• Societies must support the rapid, safe implementation of validated innovations.
• Collaboration with allied health professionals and patients is not optional—it is essential.

Chirojit Mukherjee, President of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC), extends his full support for the message delivered by the ERAS Cardiac Society:

“EACTAIC stands firmly with the ERAS Cardiac Society in championing multidisciplinary, evidence-based approaches to cardiac perioperative care. The themes and outcomes of ERAS Istanbul 2025 align perfectly with our mission to advance the highest standards in anaesthesia and intensive care. We are proud to collaborate and contribute to this shared vision for better patient outcomes.”
— Chirojit Mukherjee, President, EACTAIC

This was one of the most successful ERAS meetings to date. With participants from 24 countries, it became a truly international platform for learning and exchanging ideas. The enthusiasm, openness, and drive to innovate were palpable.

What once felt like “nice-to-have” enhancements are now becoming non-negotiable pillars of care. Collaboration across organisations like ERAS, EACTAIC, and perfusion societies is not just valuable—it’s essential. Reinventing solutions in isolation is no longer an option.

ERAS Istanbul 2025 reaffirmed our shared mission: to enhance recovery, reduce harm, and improve outcomes through science and collaboration. With continued focus on extracorporeal technologies and evolving anaesthesia practices, the future of cardiac perioperative care looks more integrated—and more promising—than ever.

Daniel Engelman
President, ERAS Cardiac Society

Supported by
Chirojit Mukherjee
President, EACTAIC