A Prospective Longitudinal Quality Initiative toward Improved Enhanced Recovery after Cesarean Pathways.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether enhanced recovery after cesarean (ERAC) pathways reduces inpatient and outpatient opioid use, pain scores and improves the indicators of postoperative recovery. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective, longitudinal, quality improvement study of all patients older than 18 undergoing an uncomplicated cesarean delivery (CD) at an academic medical center. We excluded complicated CD, patients with chronic pain disorders, chronic opioid use, acute postpartum depression, or mothers whose neonate demised before their discharge. Lastly, we excluded non-English- and non-Spanish-speaking patients. Our study compared patient outcomes before (pre-ERAC) and after (post-ERAC) implementation of ERAC pathways. Primary outcomes were inpatient morphine milligram equivalent (MME) use and the patient's delta pain scores. Secondary outcomes were outpatient MME prescriptions and indicators of postoperative recovery (time to feeding, ambulation, and hospital discharge). RESULTS: Of 308 patients undergoing CD from October 2019 to September 2020, 196 were enrolled in the pre-ERAC cohort and 112 in the post-ERAC cohort. Patients in the pre-ERAC cohort were more likely to require opioids in the postoperative period compared with the post-ERAC cohort (81.6 vs. 64.3%, p < 0.001). Likewise, there was a higher use of MME per stay in the pre-ERAC cohort (30 [20-49] vs. 16.8 MME [11.2-33.9], p < 0.001). There was also a higher number of patients who required prescribed opioids at the time of discharge (98 vs. 86.6%, p < 0.001) as well as in the amount of MMEs prescribed (150 [150-225] vs. 150 MME [112-150], p < 0.001; different shape of distribution). Furthermore, the patients in the pre-ERAC cohort had higher delta pain scores (3.3 [2.3-4.7] vs. 2.2 [1.3-3.7], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study has illustrated that our ERAC pathways were associated with reduced inpatient opioid use, outpatient opioid use, patient-reported pain scores, and improved indicators of postoperative recovery. KEY POINTS: · Implementation of ERAC pathways is associated with a higher percentage of no postpartum opioid use.. · Implementation of ERAC pathways is associated with lower delta (reported - expected) pain scores.. · The results of ERAC pathways implementation are increased by adopting a patient-centered approach..

General versus Regional Anesthesia and Neonatal Data: A Propensity-Score-Matched Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference in neonatal outcomes with general anesthesia (GA) versus regional anesthesia (RA) when induction of anesthesia to delivery time (IADT) is prolonged (≥10 minutes). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective case-control study that included cases from July 2014 until August 2020. We reviewed all singleton pregnancies delivered between 24 and 42 weeks of gestation with IADT ≥ 10 minutes. Urgent deliveries, those who received RA for labor pain management or started cesarean delivery under RA and converted to GA, as well as cases with fetal anomalies, were excluded. The propensity score (PS) matching method was performed using age, ethnicity/race, body mass index, gestational age at delivery, preexisting maternal comorbidities, and pregnancy complications. Analyses were performed with SAS software version 9.4. RESULTS: During the study period, we identified 258 cases meeting inclusion criteria. After the PS matching was applied, the study sample was reduced to 60 cases in each group. The median IADT and uterine incision to delivery time were similar between groups (41.5 [30.5, 52] vs. 46 minutes [38, 53.5], p = 0.2 and 1.5 [1, 3] vs. 2 minutes [1, 3], respectively). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to arterial or venous cord pH (7.24 [7.21, 7.26] vs. 7.23 [7.2, 7.27], p = 0.7 and 7.29 [7.26, 7.33] vs. 7.3 [7.26, 7.33], p = 0.4, respectively). Nor were there any associations between maternal characteristics and Apgar's score at 5 minutes, except for Apgar's score at 1 minute (p < 0.001). No significant difference was identified in the rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; 11 [52.4%] vs. 10 [47.6%], p = 0.8) or NICU length of stay between GA and RA (4 [3, 14] vs. 4.5 [3, 11], p = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that even with prolonged IADT, favorable neonatal outcomes are seen with both GA and RA, in contrast with previous studies performed decades ago. KEY POINTS: · Improving cesarean delivery safety, including the safety of anesthesia, is of paramount importance.. · Reappraisal of historical outcomes is warranted as advances in the medical field unfold.. · Favorable neonatal outcomes are seen with both general and regional anesthesia..

Linshom thermodynamic sensor is a reliable alternative to capnography for monitoring respiratory rate.

Monitoring ventilation accurately is a technically challenging, yet indispensable aspect of patient care in the intra- and post-procedural settings. A new prototypical device known as the Linshom Respiratory Monitoring Device (LRMD) has been recently designed to non-invasively, inexpensively, and portably measure respiratory rate. The purpose of this study was to measure the accuracy and variability of LRMD measurements of respiratory rate relative to the measurement of capnography. In this prospective study, participants were enrolled and individually fitted with a face mask monitored by the LRMD and capnography. With a baseline oxygen flow rate and digital metronome to pace their respiratory rate, the participants were instructed to breathe at 10 breaths per minute (bpm) for 3 min, 20 bpm for 3 min, 30 bpm for 3 min, 0 bpm for 30 s, and resume regular breathing for 30 s. Both sensors were connected to a computer for continuous temperature and carbon dioxide waveform recordings. The data were then retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-six healthy volunteers, mean (range) age 27.8 (23-37) and mean (range) BMI 23.1 (18.8-29.2) kg/m2 were recruited. There were 15 males (57.7%) and 11 females (42.3%). After excluding 3 subjects for technical reasons, 13,800 s of breathing and 4,140 expiratory breaths were recorded. Throughout the protocol, the average standard deviation (SD) for the LRMD and capnography was 1.11 and 1.81 bpm, respectively. The overall mean bias (±2SD) between LRMD and capnography was -0.33 (±0.1.56) bpm. At the lowest and intermediate breathing rates reflective of hypoventilation and normal ventilation, the LRMD variance was 0.55 and 1.23 respectively, compared to capnography with 5.54 and 7.47, respectively. At higher breathing rates indicative of hyperventilation, the variance of the test device was 4.52, still less than that of capnography at 5.73. This study demonstrated a promising correlation between the LRMD and capnography for use as a respiratory rate monitor. The LRMD technology may be a significant addition to monitoring vital signs because it offers a minimally intrusive opportunity to detect respiratory rate and apnea, without expensive or complex anesthetic equipment, before the need for life-saving resuscitation arises.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Music Use During Epidural Catheter Placement on Laboring Parturient Anxiety, Pain, and Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Although music is frequently used to promote a relaxing environment during labor and delivery, the effect of its use during the placement of neuraxial techniques is unknown. Our study sought to determine the effects of music use on laboring parturients during epidural catheter placement, with the hypothesis that music use would result in lower anxiety, lower pain, and greater patient satisfaction. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of laboring parturients undergoing epidural catheter placement with or without music. The music group listened to the patient's preferred music on a Pandora® station broadcast through an external amplified speaker; the control group listened to no music. All women received a standardized epidural technique and local anesthetic dose. The primary outcomes were 3 measures of anxiety. Secondary outcomes included pain, patient satisfaction, hemodynamic parameters, obstetric parameters, neonatal outcomes, and anesthesia provider anxiety. Intention-to-treat analysis with Bonferroni correction was used for the primary outcomes. For secondary outcomes, a P value of <.001 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 100 parturients were randomly assigned, with 99 included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Patient characteristics were similar in both groups; in the music group, the duration of music use was 31.1 ± 7.7 minutes (mean ± SD). The music group experienced higher anxiety as measured by Numeric Rating Scale scores immediately after epidural catheter placement (2.9 ± 3.3 vs 1.4 ± 1.7, mean difference 1.5 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.2-2.7], P = .02), and as measured by fewer parturients being "very much relaxed" 1 hour after epidural catheter placement (51% vs 78%, odds ratio {OR} 0.3 [95% CI 0.1-0.9], P = .02). No differences in mean pain scores immediately after placement or patient satisfaction with the overall epidural placement experience were observed; however, the desire for music use with future epidural catheter placements was higher in the music group (84% vs 45%, OR 6.4 [95% CI 2.5-16.5], P < .0001). No differences in the difficulty with the epidural catheter placement or in the rate of cesarean delivery were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Music use during epidural catheter placement in laboring parturients is associated with higher postprocedure anxiety and no improvement in pain or satisfaction; however, a stronger desire for music with future epidural catheter placements was observed. Further investigation is needed to determine the effect of music use in parturients requesting and using epidural labor analgesia.

Introduction of a new electronic medical record system has mixed effects on first surgical case efficiency metrics.

To evaluate the effect of deploying a new electronic medical record (EMR) system on first case starts in the operating room. Data on first case start times were collected after implementation of a new EMR (Epic) from June 2015 to May 2016, which replaced a legacy system of both paper and electronic records. These were compared to data from the same months in the three proceeding years. First patient in room (FPIR) on time was true if the patient was in operating room before 7:35 AM (or 9:35 AM on Wednesdays) and first case on time start (FCOTS) was true if completion of anesthetic induction was less than 20 min after the patient entered the operating room (or 35 min for cardiac and neurosurgery). Times beyond these cutoffs were quantified as FPIR and FCOTS delays in minutes. Average delays were compared by month with two-sample t tests and 95 % confidence intervals. There was a significant increase in FPIR delays in the first month (11.07 vs. 3.47 min, p < 0.0001), which abated by the fifth month. Post-implementation FCOTS delays improved by the third month (4.53 vs. 7.10 min, p < 0.0001). Both results persisted throughout the study. First month FPIR delays were not limited to any one specialty. EMRs have the potential to improve hospital workflows, but are not without learning curves. FPIR and FCOTS delays return to baseline after a few months, and in the case of FCOTS, can improve beyond baseline.

Effect of Anesthesia Staffing Ratio on First-Case Surgical Start Time.

On time start of the first case of the day is an important operating room (OR) efficiency metric, in which delays can have effects throughout the day. Although previous studies have identified various causes of first case start delays, none have attempted to evaluate the effect anesthesia staffing ratios have on first case start times. We performed a single-center retrospective analysis at an academic teaching hospital. Data was collected and analyzed over a period of 4 years and on more than 8,700 cases. We examined whether staffing ratios of attending only (solo staffing ratio), attending working with 1 resident/certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) (1 to 1), or attending covering 2 residents/CRNAs (1 to 2) had a significant effect on first patient in room time (FPIR) and first case on time start (FCOTS). In addition, we examined whether staffing ratios had an effect on start times in various surgical subspecialties. We performed a univariate logistic regression analysis to determine if age, anesthesia base units, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) classification score, and staffing ratio was associated with FPIR and FCOTS being on time. Then, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine if staffing ratio was associated with these outcomes, utilizing age, anesthesia base units, and ASA PS class as covariates. A decreased odds for FPIR being on time were seen in general and orthopedic surgeries when staffed 1 to 1, and cardiac surgery when staffed 1 to 2, when compared to solo staffing. FCOTS showed statistically significant differences when looking at all services with solo staffing having the highest odds for FCOTS being on time. This effect was seen also when analyzing only oncologic and orthopedic surgeries. Hospitals should consider using different staffing ratios in different surgical specialties to minimize delays and maximize OR efficiency.

Successful strategies for the reduction of operating room turnover times in a tertiary care academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Turnover time (TOT) is one of the classic measures of operating room (OR) efficiency. There have been numerous efforts to reduce TOTs, sometimes through the employment of a process improvement framework. However, most examples of process improvement in the TOT focus primarily on operational changes to workflows and statistical significance. These examples of process improvement do not detail the complex organizational challenges associated with implementing, expanding, and sustaining change. METHODS: TOT data for general and gastrointestinal surgery were collected retrospectively over a 26-mo period at a large multispecialty academic institution. We calculated mean and median TOTs. TOTs were excluded if the sequence of cases was changed or cases were canceled. Data were retrieved from the perioperative nursing data entry system. RESULTS: Using performance improvement strategies, we determined how various events and organizational factors created an environment that was receptive to change. This ultimately led to a sustained decrease in the OR TOT both in the general and gastrointestinal surgery ORs that were the focus of the study (44.8 min versus 48.6 min; P < 0.0001) and other subspecialties (49.3 min versus 53.0 min; P < 0.0001), demonstrating that the effect traveled outside the study area. CONCLUSIONS: There are obstacles, such as organizational culture and institutional inertia, that OR leaders, managers, and change agents commonly face. Awareness of the numerous variables that may support or impede a particular change effort can inform effective change implementation strategies that are "organizationally compatible."

Relationship between maternal arterial and foetal cord carbon dioxide tension and neonatal outcome in critically ill pregnant women at delivery.

Background and Aims: No studies have evaluated the relationship between maternal arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (mPaCO2) and umbilical cord venous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in critically ill pregnant women at delivery. Based on the studies in healthy pregnant women, an mPaCO2 target of ≤50 mmHg is a suggested threshold during mechanical ventilation in critically ill parturients. We evaluated the relationship between mPaCO2 and neonatal cord gases in critically ill parturients at delivery as the primary objective. The relationship between mPaCO2 and APGAR scores at delivery was also analysed as a secondary objective. Methods: Maternal and neonatal cord gas data at delivery and APGAR scores were obtained by a retrospective chart review of 25 consecutive parturients with severe respiratory compromise who were delivered during mechanical ventilation. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between mPaCO2 and umbilical artery and vein PCO2 and between mPaCO2 and APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min. Results: There was a positive correlation between mPaCO2 and neonatal cord venous PCO2 (P = 0.013). Foetal venous PCO2 exceeded predelivery mPaCO2 by 17.5 (7.5) mmHg. There was an inverse relationship between mPaCO2 and neonatal APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min (P = 0.006 and P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Foetal cord venous PCO2 can be predicted if mPaCO2 values are known. Unlike in healthy pregnant women, there was an inverse relationship between rising mPaCO2 levels and neonatal APGAR scores in critically ill pregnant women who had several associated compounding factors.

A patient who received 191 spinal anesthetics over 5 years without evidence of neurologic complications by examination or magnetic resonance imaging.

We present the case of a 50-year-old man who suffered a crush injury to his right lower extremity in 2002 and received 191 spinal anesthetics to date with no identifiable neurologic complications by physical examination or imaging. He has undergone >300 operations at our institution related to recurrent infection and wound breakdown, including multiple amputations and debridements with 146 of these occurring in a span of 36 months. The patient has no focal neurologic deficits involving his right lower extremity and denies any associated pain or paresthesias. Magnetic resonance imaging of the patient's lumbar spine performed in September of 2009 revealed fibrotic changes, consistent with scar tissue formation, over the L2 and L3 spinous processes. There was no evidence of intrathecal scar tissue, adhesions, neuroma formation, or other changes that could be attributed to repeated lumbar puncture. Although uneventful in our single patient, safety with respect to the development of transient or permanent neurologic complications, infections, or subclinical pathology identified by imaging cannot be broadly extrapolated to repeat lumbar punctures.

The learning curve associated with the epidural technique using the Episure™ AutoDetect™ versus conventional glass syringe: an open-label, randomized, controlled, crossover trial of experienced anesthesiologists in obstetric patients.

BACKGROUND: The Episure™ AutoDetect™ (spring-loaded) syringe has been observed to successfully identify the epidural space in 2 pilot studies. In this study we evaluated the impact of the spring-loaded syringe on the establishment of successful epidural labor analgesia (primary outcome), elapsed time for catheter placement, and learning curve (cumulative summary analysis, i.e., Cusum) of experienced anesthesiologists. METHODS: Fourteen attending and fellow anesthesiologists were randomized to perform 50 consecutive epidural technique attempts using a spring-loaded or conventional glass syringe. Ten participants completed an additional 50 attempts with the alternate syringe in a crossover design. RESULTS: A total of 1200 epidural placement attempts were performed. Use of the spring-loaded syringe was associated with a nonsignificant difference of estimated success rate in obtaining analgesia success (absolute difference of 1.0% 95% confidence interval, CI: -8.9% to 10.8%), shorter elapsed mean time to epidural catheter placement (ratio of 0.92 95% CI, 0.89-0.96); P = 0.003) and similar Cusum curves when compared with a conventional glass syringe. Analgesia success was more common with attending versus fellow anesthesiologists (absolute difference of 34.6% 95% CI, 14.9% to 54.3%; P < 0.001), and when the initial preferred technique was loss-of-resistance to continuous saline versus intermittent air (absolute difference of 33.8% 95% CI, 12.6% to 55.0%; P < 0.001). Shorter elapsed mean times were also observed in the group exposed to the spring-loaded syringe first (ratio of 0.65 95% CI, 0.62-0.67; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: When used by experienced obstetric anesthesiologists, the spring-loaded syringe was associated with a similar overall rate for establishing successful epidural labor analgesia, a shorter elapsed time to epidural catheter insertion, particularly when the anesthesiologist was randomized to use the novel syringe first, and a similar Cusum curve when compared with a conventional glass syringe. Attending versus fellow anesthesiologists and an initial technique preference for loss-of-resistance to continuous saline were associated with greater analgesia success with the novel syringe.

Surgical advances in the management of placenta accreta spectrum: establishing new expectations for operative blood loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the implementation of our surgical approach, referred to in the text as Linear Cutter Vessel Sealing System (LCVSS) technique, will improve perioperative outcomes in patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), specifically by reducing blood loss and blood transfusion rates at the time of cesarean hysterectomy (C-HYST). The LCVSS technique integrates the following: (1) hysterotomy performed using the Linear Cutter, (2) no placental manipulation, (3) cauterization of anatomically prominent vascular anastomosis using the handheld vessel sealing system, and (4) completion of bladder dissection until the cervico-vaginal junction before ligation and division of uterine arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study that analyzed perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing C-HYST for PAS at a tertiary care center from 1 July 2014 to 1 December 2019. Comparisons were performed between cases managed with the use of the LCVSS technique (designated as LCVSS cohort) and those managed without the use of the LCVSS technique (designated as no technique cohort). The primary outcomes were cumulative blood loss (CBL) and total perioperative blood transfusion of ≥4 and ≥6 units of PRBCs. The secondary outcomes were intra- and postoperative complications. Continuous and categorical variables were compared according to the sample size and distribution. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to predict confounders for blood transfusion of ≥4 units of PRBCs. RESULTS: A total of 69 prenatally diagnosed PAS cases underwent C-HYST at the time of delivery. Forty-four cases that were performed using the LCVSS technique comprised the LCVSS cohort. The remaining 25 were marked as no technique cohort. CBL was significantly lower in the LCVSS cohort (1124 ml [300-4100] vs 3500 ml [650-10600]; p < .001). The rate of urinary tract injuries was similar (16%). The rate of postoperative complications and reoperation for intra-abdominal bleeding were lower but not significantly different in LCVSS cohort (9 vs 20% and 0 vs 8%, p = .26 and p = .12, respectively). There were no differences in neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Implementation of this advanced surgical approach for PAS management resulted in reduced blood loss and blood transfusion rates in comparison with no technique cohort.

Strategies to maintain operating room functionality following the complete loss of the recovery room due to an internal disaster.

The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is a major contributor to the operating room (OR) process flow and efficiency. A sudden failure of hospital facility infrastructure due to a burst pipe resulted in the complete loss of a 66-bed combined preoperative and PACU facility of a major academic medical center. The OR suites were undamaged. The clinical and administrative challenges of caring for surgical patients without the usual preoperative and postoperative care areas are discussed. Our strategy for maintaining OR functions and management of patient flow, OR personnel, case prioritization, and equipment needs are detailed from the time of initial crisis until restoration of these clinical care areas. Utilization of the hospital disaster Incident Command Structure and the activation and decision support provided by the hospital Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the week immediately following the crisis, helped maintain OR functionality.