The use of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles in Scottish orthopaedic units--an implementation and follow-up at 1 year, 2010-2011: a report from the Musculoskeletal Audit, Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether a nationally guided programme can lead to more widespread implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a well-established optimised care pathway for lower limb arthroplasty. DESIGN: In 2010, National Services Scotland's Musculoskeletal Audit was asked to perform a 'snapshot' audit of the current peri-operative management of patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty in all 22 Scottish orthopaedic units with an identical follow-up audit in 2011 after input and support from the national steering group. POPULATION: Audit 1 and audit 2 involved 1,345 and 1,278 patients, respectively. RESULTS: The number of Scottish units that developed an ERAS programme increased from 8 (36 %) to 15 (68 %). Units that included more ERAS patients had earlier mobilisation rates (146/474, 36 % ERAS patients mobilised same day vs. 34/873, 4 % non-ERAS; n = 22 units, r = 0.55, p = 0.008) and shorter post-operative length of stay (median 4 days vs. ERAS, 5 days non-ERAS, n = 22 units, r = -0.64, p = 0.001). ERAS knee arthroplasty patients had lower blood transfusion rates (5/205, 2 % vs. 51/399, 13 %, n = 22 units, r = -0.62, p = 0.002). Units that restricted the use of IV fluids post-operatively had higher early mobilisation rates (n = 22 units, r = 0.48, p = 0.03) and shorter post-operative length of stay (n = 22 units, r = -0.56, p = 0.007). Reduced use of patient-controlled analgesia was also associated with earlier mobilisation (n = 22 units, r = 0.49, p = 0.02) and shorter length of stay (n = 22 units, r = -0.39, p = 0.07). Urinary catheterisation rates also dropped from 468/1,345 (35 %) in 2010 to 337/1,278 (26 %) in 2011 (n = 22 units, z = 2.19, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: A clinically guided and nationally supported process has proven highly successful in achieving a further uptake of enhanced recovery principles after lower limb arthroplasty in Scotland, which has resulted in clinical benefits to patients and reduced length of hospital stay.

The impact of the withdrawal of Adderall XR (long-acting mixed amphetamine salts) from the Canadian market on paediatric patients and their families.

BACKGROUND: Adderall XR (Shire BioChem Inc, Canada), a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was withdrawn from the Canadian market in February 2005 due to concerns of possible cardiotoxicity and cerebral vascular events among a small number of individuals who had taken the medication. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the degree to which the physician's relationship with the families of the patients to whom the medication was prescribed was affected by the withdrawal of Adderall XR from the Canadian market. The study sought to explore the perceptions of caregivers of patients who took Adderall XR to the drug recall. As a secondary objective, the study also assessed the differences in perception of caregivers toward physicians compared with their perception of other agencies involved with the recall. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to the caregivers of 123 patients who had been taking the drug at the time of the withdrawal. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the 53 (43%) completed questionnaires, 89% of respondents indicated that they were concerned when informed of the withdrawal, while 58% indicated that they were frightened. Despite the concerns, only a modest degree of anger was expressed. Thirty per cent of respondents reported anger directed at Health Canada, 24% reported anger directed at the manufacturer, while no caregiver reported anger directed at their physician. Only three families (5.7%) indicated a decrease in confidence in the physician following the event. Fifty-eight per cent indicated a willingness to resume taking Adderall XR, if it was deemed safe by Health Canada. These results offer insight into patient and family perspectives following an unexpected medication recall. While caregivers were generally concerned and often frightened by this event, the present data do not suggest that the parent-physician relationship was greatly affected.