The impact of orthostatic intolerance on early ambulation following abdominal surgery in an enhanced recovery programme.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of orthostatic intolerance on the day of surgery is more than 50% after abdominal surgery. The impact of orthostatic intolerance on ambulation on the day of surgery has been little studied. We investigated orthostatic intolerance and walking ability after colorectal and bariatric surgery in an enhanced recovery programme. METHODS: Eighty-two patients (colorectal: n = 46, bariatric n = 36) were included and analysed in this prospective study. Walk tests for 2 min (2-MWT) and 6 min (6-MWT) were performed before and 24 h after surgery, and 3 h after surgery for 2-MWT. Orthostatic intolerance characterised by presyncopal symptoms when rising was recorded at the same time points. Multivariate binary logistic regressions modelling the probability of orthostatic intolerance and walking inability were performed taking into account potential risk factors. RESULTS: Prevalence of orthostatic intolerance and walking inability was, respectively, 65% and 18% 3-hour after surgery. The day after surgery, patients' performance had greatly improved: approximately 20% of the patients experienced orthostatic intolerance, whilst only 5% of the patients were unable to walk. Adjusted binary logistic regressions demonstrated that age (p = .37), sex (p = .39), BMI (p = .74), duration of anaesthesia (p = .71) and type of surgery (p = .71) did not significantly influence walking ability. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that orthostatic intolerance was frequent (~ 60%) 3-hour after abdominal surgery but prevented a 2-MWT only in ~20% of patients. No risk factors for orthostatic intolerance and walking inability were evidenced.

Impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the efficiency of enhanced recovery programmes after colorectal surgery: a retrospective study of the GRACE database.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal analgesia is considered a key element of enhanced recovery programmes (ERPs) after colorectal surgery. We investigated the effects of NSAIDs, a major component of multimodal analgesia on adherence to ERP, incidence of postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay (LOS). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of the GRACE database that included 8611 patients scheduled for colorectal surgery with an ERP between February 2016 and November 2019. Primary endpoints were adherence to the postoperative protocol, the rate and type of postoperative complications, and LOS. Data are median [IQR] and number (per cent). Multivariate models were used to assess the effects of NSAIDs on these variables taking into account potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Data from 8258 patients were analysed and classified into four groups according to whether NSAIDs had been given intra- and/or postoperatively or not at all; 4578 patients were given NSAIDs intra- and/or postoperatively and 3680 patients received no NSAIDs. Use of NSAIDs was significantly (P<0.001) associated with improved adherence to the postoperative protocol (4.0 [3.0-4.0] vs. 3.0 [2.0-4.0] items), a reduced incidence of complications (21.1% vs. 29.2%), and a shortened LOS (5.0 [3.0-7.0] vs. 6.0 [4.0-9.0] days) compared to the no-NSAIDs group. Multivariate analyses adjusted for the confounding factors confirmed a significant (P<0.001) beneficial impact of NSAIDs on these three primary endpoints. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that perioperative NSAID use results in better adherence to the postoperative protocol, fewer postoperative in-hospital complications, and shorter LOS after colorectal surgery.