2001- 2004

The ERAS Society has its roots in what was called the ERAS Study Group.  Comprised of leading surgical groups, the ERAS Study Group was assembled by Professor Ken Fearon and Professor Olle Lungqvist in 2001 to further develop ideas put forth in the 1990's by Professor Henrik Kehlet concerning the concept of multimodal surgical care. In addition to the above, Profs Arthur Revhaug, Univ Tromsö, Profs Martin von Meyenfeldt and Cornlius deJong, Univ Maastricht were the original members of the ERAS Study Group.

The ERAS Study Group soon discovered that there were a variety of traditions in use in different units.  There was also was a great discrepancy between the actual practices and what was already known to be best practice, based on the literature.  This prompted the group to examine the process of change from tradition to best-practice.

2005

The ERAS Study Group developed and published an "evidence-based concensus protocol for patients undergoing colonic surgery."

2009

The ERAS Study Group updated the evidence base to include rectal surgery.

2010

The ERAS Society was formed in Stockholm, Sweden.

2011

1st National symposium supported by the ERAS Society, held in San Raffaele hospital in Milano June 17, 2011.