Large-scale Implementation of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Blocks in an Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: A robust body of literature supports the use of fascia iliaca compartment blocks (FICB) for improving outcomes in hip fractures, especially in the geriatric population. Our objective in this project was to implement consistent pre-surgical, emergency department (ED) FICB for hip fracture patients and to address barriers to implementation. METHODS: With the support of a multidisciplinary team, including orthopedic surgery and anesthesia, a core team of emergency physicians developed and implemented a departmentwide FICB training and credentialing program. The goal was to have 80% of all emergency physicians credentialed to provide pre-surgical FICB to all hip fracture patients seen in the ED who met the criteria. Following implementation, we assessed approximately one year of data on hip fracture patients presenting to the ED. We evaluated whether or not they were eligible for FICB and, if so, whether or not they received it. RESULTS: Emergency physician education has resulted in 86% of clinicians credentialed to perform FICB. Of 486 patients presenting for hip fracture, 295 (61%) were considered eligible for a block. Of those eligible, (54%) consented and underwent a FICB in the ED. CONCLUSION: A collaborative, multidisciplinary effort is vital for success. The primary barrier to achieving a higher percentage of eligible patients receiving blocks was the deficit of emergency physicians initially credentialed. Continuing education is ongoing, including credentialing and early identification of patients eligible for the fascia iliaca compartment block.

Fascia Iliaca Blocks Performed in the Emergency Department Decrease Opioid Consumption and Length of Stay in Patients with Hip Fracture.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of fascia iliaca (FI) blocks performed in the emergency department on patients with hip fracture on opioid consumption, length of stay, and readmission rate. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community-based Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-eight patients with isolated femoral neck, intertrochanteric, and subtrochanteric femur fractures (OTA/AO 31-A and 31-B) presenting from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020. INTERVENTION: Ultrasound-guided FI compartment block using 40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Opioid consumption, length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day readmission rate. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had contraindication to FI block. Thirty-nine of 65 patients (60%) without contraindications to undergoing FIB received FI block. Mean age, body mass index, fracture type, and surgical procedure were similar between patients undergoing FIB and not receiving FIB. The FIB group had significantly lower opioid consumption preoperatively [17.4 vs. 32.0 morphine milliequivalents (MMEs)], postoperatively (37.1 vs. 85.5 MMEs), over total hospital stay (54.5 vs. 117.5 MMEs), and mean opioid consumption per day of hospital stay (13.3 vs. 24.0 MMEs). Patients in the FIB group had shorter length of stay compared with the control group (4.3 vs. 5.2 days). There was no significant difference in discharge disposition destination between groups. No patients reported complications of FI block. CONCLUSIONS: Undergoing FI block in the emergency department was associated with decreased opioid consumption, decreased length of stay, and decreased hospital readmission within 30 days of hip fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Bariatric Enhanced Recovery Protocol: a Community Quality Perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric enhanced recovery protocols can decrease length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs without compromising patient safety. Increased data is needed to compare patient outcomes before and after application of enhanced recovery pathways. We present a bariatric enhanced recovery protocol (BERP) at a community hospital. The objectives were to decrease hospital LOS and reduce schedule II substance use (medications with a high potential for abuse, potentially resulting in psychological or physical dependence), without compromising patient safety. METHODS: This was a combined retrospective and prospective analysis of all patients undergoing bariatric surgery by two surgeons from September 2016 to April 2018. Mann-Whitney U, Pearson chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were evaluated. Overall median (interquartile range) age was 43.0 (36.0-54.0) years and body mass index (BMI) was 45.0 (40.6-50.3) kg/m2. Pre-protocol mean hospital LOS was 2.3 days while enhanced recovery protocol patients mean LOS was 1.4 days (p < 0.001). Sixty-five percent of BERP patients were discharged on hospital day 1, while no patients prior to the protocol were discharged before hospital day 2. Only 9% of BERP patients were discharged with schedule II medications, compared to 100% of the pre-protocol patients (p < 0.001). Intraoperative, in-hospital, and 30-day complication rates were not statistically significant between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Community hospitals can reduce length of stay and narcotic prescribing without compromising safety-related outcomes. Significant reductions in the amount of schedule II medications can be achieved when using multimodal enhanced recovery protocol approaches.