Objective To compare the effect of anesthesia management between enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol and traditional protocol on stress level of thyroid surgery.Methods Sixty-two patients receiving thyroid surgery from May 2016 to August 2016, 13 males and 49 females, aged 18-65 years, of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, were randomly divided into group ERAS (n=29) and traditional group (group C, n=33).Each group had its own anesthesia management protocol.Operation method, operation duration, the level of pain during emergence and on the first postoperative day, the occurrence rate of complications and the satisfaction evaluation of pain and nausea and vomiting after the operation day were recorded.C-reactive protein (CRP), serum cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) before and after the operation day were evaluated.Results The visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score in group ERAS was lower than that in group C during emergence [(0.42±0.83) points vs (0.95±1.16) points]and on the first postoperative day [(1.90±1.21) points vs (2.73±1.40) points] (P<0.05).Group ERAS was more satisfied with pain relief at first day after the surgery than that of group C (P<0.05).The level of CRP in group ERAS was lower than that in group C on the operative day and the first postoperative day (P<0.05).In group C, the level of CRP on the operative day and the first postoperative day were much higher than those before the surgery (P<0.05).The occurrence rate of complications between the two groups had no statistical difference.Conclusion The perioperative ERAS anesthesia management of thyroid surgery is safe and effective in pain management, patient satisfaction and accelerated recovery.