ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery (ERAS).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane library, CBM, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect clinical controlled trials of comparing ERAS and the traditional rehabilitation management in patients who received pancreaticoduodenectomy from inception to March 31st, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.2 software.ResultsA total of 12 non-randomized historical controlled trials involving 2 588 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that ERAS shortened postoperative hospital stay (MD=–5.44, 95%CI –7.73 to –3.15, P<0.000 01) and the time to the first passage of flatus (MD=–1.40, 95%CI –2.60 to –0.20,P=0.02), reduced the rate of postoperative complication (OR=0.61, 95%CI 0.52 to 0.72, P<0.000 01), pancreatic fistula (OR=0.81, 95%CI 0.66 to 0.99,P=0.04) and delayed gastric emptying (OR=0.49, 95%CI 0.38 to 0.63, P<0.000 01). However, there was no significant difference in incidences of biliary fistula, abdominal cavity infection, wound infection and postoperative pulmonary infection between two groups.ConclusionsThe application of ERAS in pancreaticoduodenectomy is effective and does not increase postoperative complication. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.