Prediction of postoperative respiratory depression and respiratory complications in patients on preoperative methadone.

PURPOSE: We developed prediction models for postoperative respiratory depression and respiratory complications for 958 patients who were on methadone preoperatively. METHODS: The primary outcome was postoperative respiratory depression as defined by respiratory rate < 10/min, oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 90%, or requirement of naloxone for 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcome was the composite of postoperative respiratory complications. Prediction models for postoperative respiratory depression and respiratory complications were constructed using multivariate logistic regression with preoperative and intraoperative characteristics as the predictors. RESULTS: For the multivariate logistic regression model for postoperative respiratory depression, surgery duration (P = 0.005), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.008), surgery involving digestive system (P = 0.031), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≥ 4 (P = 0.038) were statistically significant predictors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the model was 0.581 (0.558-0.601) [median (95% confidence interval (CI))] with fivefold cross-validation. For the model for postoperative respiratory complications, surgery duration (P = 0.001), history of hypertension (P = 0.028), surgery involving musculoskeletal system (P < 0.001), surgery involving integumental system (P = 0.034), surgery categorized to miscellaneous therapeutic procedures (P = 0.028), combined general and regional anesthesia (P = 0.033), ASA physical status 3 (P < 0.001), and ASA physical status ≥ 4 (P < 0.001) were statistically significant predictors, and AUROC of the model was 0.726 (0.712-0.737). CONCLUSIONS: Multivariate logistic regression models including preoperative, and intraoperative characteristics as the predictors performed poorly to predict postoperative respiratory depression, and moderately for postoperative respiratory complications. Neither model is accurate enough to be subject to clinical use.

Limited English proficiency in the labor and delivery unit.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Limited English proficiency (LEP) impacts patient access to safe and comprehensive care during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. In this review, we explore disparities in care delivery and outcomes that LEP women experience, and discuss the importance of providing language concordant care and using interpretation services appropriately. RECENT FINDINGS: The number of individuals with LEP is steadily increasing in the United States. Pregnant women with LEP suffer disparities in obstetric care and are at risk for postpartum depression, breastfeeding difficulties, and substandard newborn care after neonatal ICU discharge because of insufficient education. Addressing these issues requires the implementation of language concordant care and education, along with the utilization of medically trained interpreters. Although further evidence is needed, the authors support these interventions to improve patient satisfaction, decrease medical errors, and curtail misdiagnoses. SUMMARY: The pregnant woman with limited English proficiency is at risk of receiving suboptimal care and experiencing negative outcomes during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. The use of medically trained interpreters and the provision of language concordant care, through workforce diversification and the creation of forms and educational materials in diverse languages, can improve patient safety, outcomes, and quality of care.

An enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cesarean delivery decreases hospital stay and cost.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways provide a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to the care of surgical patients. They have been shown to decrease postoperative length of stay and cost in several surgical subspecialties, including gynecology, but have not been well-studied in obstetric patients who undergo cesarean delivery. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cesarean delivery would decrease postoperative length of stay and postoperative direct cost compared with historic controls. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study that compared postoperative length of stay and postoperative direct cost among women on the enhanced recovery after surgery cesarean delivery pathway in the first year of implementation (April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018; n=531) compared with historic controls (March 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017; n=661). Literature review informed the development of a prototype enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for cesarean delivery based on best practices from previous enhanced recovery after surgery experience in obstetrics (if available) or from other surgical disciplines if there were no available data for obstetrics. When there was not relevant published evidence from obstetrics, the taskforce used clinical experience and expert opinion to develop the pathway. The enhanced recovery after surgery cesarean delivery pathway included preadmission patient education and preoperative, intrapartum, and postoperative elements. Some components reflected standard obstetric care, and others were specific to the enhanced recovery after surgery pathway. Women with pregestational diabetes mellitus who were receiving insulin therapy before pregnancy, women with preeclampsia with severe features, women with complex pain needs, and women with surgical complications were excluded from baseline and implementation groups. Enhanced recovery after surgery cesarean delivery pathway participation was determined by order set usage. Analysis was stratified for women who underwent planned (no labor; n=530) and unplanned (labor; n=662) cesarean delivery. Demographic and clinical characteristics, postoperative length of stay, postoperative direct cost, and readmission rates for the baseline and implementation groups were compared with the use of chi-square and t-tests. RESULTS: During the first year of implementation, 531 of 640 eligible women (83%) were included in the enhanced recovery after surgery cesarean delivery pathway. Body mass index was marginally higher in the baseline group for unplanned cesarean delivery (32.5±7.1 vs 31.4±6.7 kg/m2; P=.04). Otherwise there were no significant differences in demographic or maternal clinical characteristics between baseline or implementation groups overall or for planned or unplanned cesarean delivery. Compared with baseline, implementation of the enhanced recovery after surgery cesarean delivery pathway resulted in a significant decrease in postoperative length of stay by 7.8% or 4.86 hours overall (P<.001) and for both planned (P=.001) and unplanned (P=.002) cesarean delivery. Total postoperative direct costs decreased by 8.4% or $642.85 per patient overall (P<.001) and for both planned (P<.001) and unplanned (P<.001) cesarean delivery. There were no significant differences in readmission rates. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway for women who had planned or unplanned cesarean delivery was associated with significantly decreased postoperative length of stay and significant direct cost-savings per patient, without an increase in hospital readmissions. Given that cesarean delivery is 1 of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, positively impacting postoperative length of stay and direct cost for women who undergo cesarean delivery could have significant healthcare cost-savings.