Implementation of liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane blocks into the colorectal enhanced recovery after surgery protocol: a natural experiment.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are now standard of care for colorectal surgery. Efforts have been aimed at decreasing postoperative opioid consumption. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of liposomal bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks on opioid use and its downstream effect on rates of ileus and hospital length of stay (LOS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective pre- and postintervention time-trend analysis (2016-2018) of ERAS patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery at two academic medical centers within the same hospital system. The intervention was liposomal bupivacaine TAP blocks versus standard local infiltration with bupivacaine with a primary outcome of total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) administered within 72 h of surgery. Secondary outcomes included hospital LOS and rate of postoperative ileus. RESULTS: There were 556 patients included at the control hospital, and 384 patients were included at the treatment hospital. Patients at both hospitals were similar with regard to age, body mass index, comorbidities, and surgical indication. In an adjusted time-trend analysis, the treatment hospital was associated with a significant decrease in MME administered (- 15.9 mg, p = 0.04) and hospital LOS (- 0.8 days, p < 0.001). There was no significant decrease in the rate of ileus at the treatment hospital (- 6.9%, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: In a time-trend analysis, the addition of liposomal bupivacaine TAP blocks into the ERAS protocol resulted in significantly reduced opioid use and shorter hospital LOS for patients undergoing surgery at the treatment hospital. Liposomal bupivacaine TAP blocks should be considered for inclusion in the standard ERAS protocol.

Preoperative anemia is associated with increased radical cystectomy complications.

PURPOSE: The impact of anemia in postoperative complications following radical cystectomy (RC) is not completely elucidated and its association with direct hospital costs has not been characterized in depth. Our goal is to determine the association between anemia, 90-day surgical complications and the expenditure attributed to preoperative anemia in patients undergoing RC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We captured all patients who underwent RC between 2003 and 2017 using the Premier Hospital Database (Premier Inc, Charlotte, NC). Patient, hospital and surgical characteristics were evaluated. Anemia was defined by a corresponding diagnostic code that was present on admission prior to RC. Unadjusted patients' demographic characteristics with and without anemia, hospital and surgeon characteristics were compared, and multivariable regression models were developed to evaluate 90-day complications and total direct hospital costs. RESULTS: The cohort included 83,470 patients that underwent RC between 2003 and 2017 and 11% were found to be anemic. On multivariable analysis, preoperative anemia more than doubled the odds of having a complication (odds ratio 2.19 (1.89-2.53)) and significantly increased the risk of major complications (odds ratio 1.51 (1.31-1.75)) at 90-days after RC. Anemic patients had significantly higher 90-days total direct costs due to higher laboratory, pharmacologic, radiology and operating room costs. CONCLUSIONS: Anemic cystectomy patients face a 50% increase in the risk of major complications within the first 90-days after surgery. This increased risk persisted after adjusting for patient, hospital and surgical factors. Our study suggests hematocrit level prior to RC may be used as a pre-exisitng condition for increased risk of surgical complications.

Anesthetic management of a patient with left ventricular assist device undergoing robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) require specific anesthetic and hemodynamic considerations. We report the specific anesthetic preparation and management in this scenario. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 66-year-old male with a HeartMate II LVAD undergoing robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer in the steep Trendelenburg position. We employed central venous and radial arterial access, LVAD pump parameters, near-infrared sensor of cerebral oximetry, and transesophageal echocardiography for monitoring. Hemodynamics were managed with nicardipine, dobutamine, epinephrine, and phenylephrine during abdominal insufflation, operative positioning, and desufflation. The patient had a successful procedure, was discharged on postoperative day 2, and achieved surgical cure of his prostate cancer. DISCUSSION: By presenting the first detailed account of anesthetic management in this scenario, we provide a clinical vignette for use by the clinical anesthesiologist in his or her preparation prior to caring for this type of patient.

Reduction in Cardiac Arrhythmias Within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program in Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal perioperative care pathway designed to achieve early recovery by preserving preoperative organ function and minimizing the stress response following surgery. Few studies have assessed the association between ERAS and postoperative cardiac complications. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of ERAS on postoperative cardiac complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of colorectal patients who underwent surgery at a tertiary colorectal cancer referral center was carried out. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors including demographics, comorbidities, medications, and fluid administration were recorded. The primary outcome was postoperative cardiac arrhythmia, and secondary outcomes included other postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 800 patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery were identified. Four hundred seventeen patients (52%) were in the control group and 383 patients (48%) were in the ERAS group. Patients in both groups were similar with regard to demographics and clinical characteristics. There were significantly higher rates of cardiac arrhythmia in the control group (5.3%) compared with the ERAS group (1.8%), p = 0.009. Multivariable analysis revealed that ERAS was an independent predictor of decreased postoperative cardiac arrhythmia (OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.17-0.55, p < 0.001) while older age was an independent predictor of increased postoperative cardiac arrhythmia (OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.02-1.13, p = 0.008). Patients receiving lower amounts of intravenous fluids had significantly decreased postoperative cardiac arrhythmia (OR = 0.25, 95%CI 0.09-0.67, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: ERAS and goal-directed fluid therapy are associated with significant reductions in postoperative cardiac arrhythmias.

Implementation of a Perioperative Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Program for Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy on an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Novel venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis programs, including postdischarge pharmacologic prophylaxis, have been associated with decreased VTE rates. Such practices have not been widely adopted in managing radical cystectomy (RC) patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a perioperative VTE prophylaxis program on VTE rates after RC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Single-institution, nonrandomized, pre- and post-intervention analysis of 319 patients undergoing RC at Brigham and Women's Hospital between July 2011 and April 2017. Patient and outcome data were prospectively collected as part of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. INTERVENTION: Before June 2015, patients only received postoperative pharmacologic and mechanical VTE prophylaxis in the inpatient setting. Starting June 2015, a perioperative VTE prophylaxis program was implemented as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, including a 28-d course of postdischarge enoxaparin. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary outcome was 30-d postoperative VTE rate. Secondary outcomes were perioperative bleeding rates, 30-d complication, readmission, and mortality rates, and length of stay. Univariate analysis was performed comparing outcomes between pre- and post-intervention cohorts. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of the 319 patients who underwent RC, 210 (66%) were in the pre- and 109 (34%) in the post-intervention cohort. VTE rate was significantly lower in the post-intervention cohort (n=1, 0.9% vs n=13, 6.2%; p=0.04). Rates of perioperative bleeding (35% vs 33%; p=0.80) and 30-d readmissions related to bleeding (1% vs 3.7%; p=0.19) did not differ significantly. Single-institution data limits generalizability, and patient compliance with postdischarge enoxaparin was unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a perioperative VTE prophylaxis program as part of an ERAS protocol that includes extended postdischarge pharmacologic prophylaxis was associated with decreased rate of VTE events after RC. Perioperative bleeding and readmissions related to bleeding did not increase with this intervention. PATIENT SUMMARY: This study evaluated whether clotting complication rates after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer can be reduced by implementing a new postoperative care pathway. This pathway reduced rates of clotting complications without increasing bleeding rates and should be considered for all patients undergoing RC.