Effect of Pelvic Floor Function Exercises Based on the ERAS Concept on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms after Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the effect of pelvic floor function exercises based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept on lower urinary tract symptoms after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted using clinical data of patients admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 and underwent radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. In accordance with the nursing method, the patients were divided into the routine group (conventional care) and the ERAS pelvic floor function exercise group, for which ERAS concept-based pelvic floor function exercises were carried out on the basis of the former group. The confounders between the two groups were matched by propensity score, and the scores of urination, pelvic floor muscle strength, lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life (QoL) were compared between the two groups after matching. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were included in the study, of whom 60 patients were identified after propensity score matching, consisting of 30 patients each in the ERAS and routine groups. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced, and the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Compared with the routine group, the observation group showed significantly shorter first spontaneous urination time, greater first urination volume (p < 0.05), better pelvic floor muscle strength, considerably lower urinary tract symptoms and better QoL at discharge and 3 months after discharge (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor function exercises based on the ERAS concept can relieve lower urinary tract symptoms, accelerate urination and improve pelvic floor muscle strength and QoL after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol for Cleft Palate Repair.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for patients with cleft palate and hypothesizes that patients who followed the protocol would have decreased hospital length of stay and decreased narcotic usage than those who did not. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study takes place at a single tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS: All patients who underwent cleft palate repair during a 10-year period (n = 242). INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent cleft palate repair with the most recent cohort following a new ERAS protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included hospital length of stay and narcotic usage in the first 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Use of local bupivacaine during surgery was associated with decreased initial 24-hour morphine equivalent usage: 2.25 vs 3.38 mg morphine equivalent (MME) (P < 0.01), and a decreased hospital length of stay: 1.71 days vs 2.27 days (P < 0.01). The highest 24-hour morphine equivalent a patient consumed prior to the ERAS protocol implementation was 24.53 MME, compared with 6.3 MME after implementation. Utilization of the ERAS protocol was found to be associated with a decreased hospital length of stay: 1.67 vs 2.18 days (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the proposed ERAS protocol may lead to lower narcotic usage and decreased length of stay.

Enhanced recovery after surgery versus conventional postoperative care in patients undergoing hysterectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Hysterectomy is a common gynecological surgery associated with significant postoperative discomfort and extended hospital stays. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a multidisciplinary approach, has emerged as a strategy aimed at improving perioperative outcomes and promoting faster patient recovery and satisfaction. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of ERAS protocols on clinical outcomes, such as hospital stay length, readmission rates, and postoperative complications, in patients undergoing gynecological hysterectomy. METHODS: Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched for relevant studies published up to January 31, 2023. A total of seventeen studies were selected based on predefined eligibility and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model with the STATA SE 14.0 software, focusing on outcomes like length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and readmission rates. RESULTS: ERAS protocols significantly reduced the length of hospital stays and incidence of postoperative complications such as ileus, without increasing readmission rates or the level of patient-reported pain. Notable heterogeneity was observed among included studies, attributed to the variation in patient populations and the specificity of the documented study protocols. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the effectiveness of ERAS protocols in enhancing recovery trajectories in gynecological hysterectomy patients. This reinforces the imperative for broader, standardized adoption of ERAS pathways as an evidence-based approach, fostering a safer and more efficient perioperative care paradigm.

ERAS for Ambulatory TURBT: Enhancing Bladder Cancer Care (EMBRACE) randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) is one of the more common procedures performed by urologists. It is often described as an 'incision-free' and 'well-tolerated' operation. However, many patients experience distress and discomfort with the procedure. Substantial opportunity exists to improve the TURBT experience. An enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol designed by patients with bladder cancer and their providers has been developed. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a single-centre, randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of an ERAS protocol compared with usual care in patients with bladder cancer undergoing ambulatory TURBT. The ERAS protocol is composed of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative components designed to optimise each phase of perioperative care. 100 patients with suspected or known bladder cancer aged ≥18 years undergoing initial or repeat ambulatory TURBT will be enrolled. The change in Quality of Recovery 15 score, a measure of the quality of recovery, between the day of surgery and postoperative day 1 will be compared between the ERAS and control groups. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial has been approved by the Johns Hopkins Institutional Review Board #00392063. Participants will provide informed consent to participate before taking part in the study. Results will be reported in a separate publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05905276.

The effect of enhanced recovery after lung cancer surgery combined with fine surgical nursing on rehabilitation.

Objectives: To analyse the enhanced recovery after surgery approach combined with fine surgical nursing on recovery time, pain, sleep quality and satisfaction with care after lung cancer surgery. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Nanjing Chest Hospital, China, from October 2019 to March 2022, and comprised non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Patients receiving fine surgical nursing in addition to conventional enhanced recovery after surgery formed the intervention group A, while those receiving the conventional enhanced recovery after surgery care alone formed control group B. Intraoperative blood loss, operative time, extubation time and length of stay values were noted for both the groups using standard scales. Nursing satisfaction and the incidence of adverse reactions in the two groups were also noted. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Of the 99 patients, 46(46.5%) were in group A; 23(50%) males and 23(50%) females with mean age 70.3±4.8 years and mean body mass index 26.76±2.55kg/m2. There were 53(53.5%) patients in group B: 16(30.2%) males and 37(69.8%) females with mean age 69.9±4.4 years and mean body mass index 25.93±2.40kg/m2 (p>0.05). Intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative extubation time and length of stay in group A were lower than those in group B (p<0.05). Pain and sleep quality values in group A were lower, while health status value was higher than group B (p<0.05). Group A had significantly higher nursing satisfaction compared to group B (p<0.05). Conclusion: The use of enhanced recovery after surgery combined with fine surgical nursing in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery promoted postoperative recovery.

PERIOPERATIVE CARE IN DIGESTIVE SURGERY: THE ERAS AND ACERTO PROTOCOLS - BRAZILIAN COLLEGE OF DIGESTIVE SURGERY POSITION PAPER.

BACKGROUND: The concept introduced by protocols of enhanced recovery after surgery modifies perioperative traditional care in digestive surgery. The integration of these modern recommendations components during the perioperative period is of great importance to ensure fewer postoperative complications, reduced length of hospital stay, and decreased surgical costs. AIMS: To emphasize the most important points of a multimodal perioperative care protocol. METHODS: Careful analysis of each recommendation of both ERAS and ACERTO protocols, justifying their inclusion in the multimodal care recommended for digestive surgery patients. RESULTS: Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) such as ERAS and ACERTO protocols are a cornerstone in modern perioperative care. Nutritional therapy is fundamental in digestive surgery, and thus, both preoperative and postoperative nutrition care are key to ensuring fewer postoperative complications and reducing the length of hospital stay. The concept of prehabilitation is another key element in ERPs. The handling of crystalloid fluids in a perfect balance is vital. Fluid overload can delay the recovery of patients and increase postoperative complications. Abbreviation of preoperative fasting for two hours before anesthesia is now accepted by various guidelines of both surgical and anesthesiology societies. Combined with early postoperative refeeding, these prescriptions are not only safe but can also enhance the recovery of patients undergoing digestive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This position paper from the Brazilian College of Digestive Surgery strongly emphasizes that the implementation of ERPs in digestive surgery represents a paradigm shift in perioperative care, transcending traditional practices and embracing an intelligent approach to patient well-being.

Clinical study: the impact of goal-directed fluid therapy on volume management during enhanced recovery after surgery in gastrointestinal procedures.

Background: Goal-directed fluid therapy, as a crucial component of accelerated rehabilitation after surgery, plays a significant role in expediting postoperative recovery and enhancing the prognosis of major surgical procedures. Methods: In line with this, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of target-oriented fluid therapy on volume management during ERAS protocols specifically for gastrointestinal surgery. Patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery at our hospital between October 2019 and May 2021 were selected as the sample population for this research. Results: 41 cases of gastrointestinal surgery patients were collected from our hospital over 3 recent years. Compared with T1, MAP levels were significantly increased from T2 to T5; cardiac output (CO) was significantly decreased from T2 to T3, and significantly increased from T4 to T5; and SV level was significantly increased from T3 to T5. Compared with T2, HR and cardiac index (CI) were significantly elevated at T1 and at T3-T5. Compared with T3, SVV was significantly decreased at T1, T2, T4, and T5; CO and stroke volume (SV) levels were increased significantly at T4 and T5. In this study, pressor drugs were taken for 23 days, PACU residence time was 40.22 ± 12.79 min, time to get out of bed was 12.41 ± 3.97 h, exhaust and defecation time was 18.11 ± 7.52 h, and length of postoperative hospital stay was 4.47 ± 1.98 days. The average HAMA score was 9.11 ± 2.37, CRP levels were 10.54 ± 3.38 mg/L, adrenaline levels were 132.87 ± 8.97 ng/L, and cortisol levels were 119.72 ± 4.08 ng/L. Prealbumin levels were 141.98 ± 10.99 mg/L at 3 d after surgery, and 164.17 ± 15.84 mg/L on the day of discharge. Lymphocyte count was 1.22 ± 0.18 (109/L) at 3 d after surgery, and 1.47 ± 0.17 (109/L) on the day of discharge. Serum albumin levels were 30.51 ± 2.28 (g/L) at 3 d after surgery, and 33.52 ± 2.07 (g/L) on the day of discharge. Conclusion: Goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) under the concept of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is helpful in volume management during radical resection of colorectal tumors, with good postoperative recovery. Attention should be paid to the influence of pneumoperitoneum and intraoperative posture on GDFT parameters.

[Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: An Example of Integrated Care for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery].

After post-coronary artery bypass surgery, patients often experience physiological issues such as pain and complications as well as psychological issues such as fatigue and depression. These issues may burden family caregivers and impact patient quality of life. Therefore, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary integrated care plan is needed to expedite postoperative recovery and reduce the social burden on patients. In recent years, government promotion of integrated healthcare, including the implementation of postoperative accelerated recovery care models, has led to the introduction of the enhanced recovery after surgery program as part of post-cardiac surgery integrated care. This program, providing combined care that is multidisciplinary and evidence-based, incorporates elements such as the provision of carbohydrate drinks, multimodal pain management, and fluid management. Reducing to a minimum the emotional and physiological stresses on patients facilitates a faster return to normal functionality. In this paper, a literature review is conducted to provide a reference for future post-coronary artery bypass surgery care by clinical teams, with the aim of offering an integrated approach to patient care.

Implementation of an innovative ERAS protocol in cardiac surgery: A qualitative evaluation from patients' perspective.

OBJECTIVE: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to optimize the recovery process for patients after surgical interventions and focus on patient-centered care. In cardiac surgery, the ERAS concept is still in its early stages. Our university hospital has implemented an innovative ERAS protocol for minimally invasive heart valve surgery since 2021. Therefore, our study aimed to comprehensively assess the patient experience within this newly established ERAS protocol and focused on exploring and understanding the nuances of optimal healthcare delivery under the ERAS framework from the unique perspective of the patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Qualitative research was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Kuckartz´s qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The following main themes emerged from the 12 completed patient interviews: 1) information and communication flow, 2) perioperative patient care, and 3) rehabilitation. Patients found the pre-operative patient education and preconditioning very helpful. Patients were satisfied with the flow of information throughout the whole perioperative care process. Most patients expressed a need for more information about the course of surgery. The intensity of care provided by different professions was perceived as optimal. The support and inclusion of relatives in perioperative care were considered crucial. Patients appreciated the direct transfer to the rehabilitation and mainly were able to cope with daily life tasks afterward. CONCLUSION: In summary, all patients experienced the ERAS protocol positively, and their healthcare process was well established. Active inclusion and education of patients in their treatment can improve patient empowerment. Two further aspects that deserve major consideration in the healthcare process are the inclusion of relatives and interprofessional cooperation.

Hyperbaric bupivacaine versus prilocaine for spinal anesthesia combined with total intravenous anesthesia during oncological colon surgery in a 23-hour stay enhanced recovery protocol: A non-randomized study.

After the success of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, perioperative care has been further optimized in accelerated enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs), where optimal pain management is crucial. Spinal anesthesia was introduced as adjunct to general anesthesia to reduce postoperative pain and facilitate mobility. This study aimed to determine which spinal anesthetic agent provides best pain relief in accelerated ERP for colon carcinoma. This single center study was a secondary analysis conducted among patients included in the aCcelerated 23-Hour erAS care for colon surgEry study who underwent elective laparoscopic colon surgery. The first 30 patients included received total intravenous anesthesia combined with spinal anesthesia with prilocaine, the 30 patients subsequently included received spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine. Primary endpoint of this study was the total amount of morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) administered during hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were amounts of MMEs administered in the recovery room and surgical ward, pain score using the numeric rating scale, complication rates and length of hospital stay. Compared to prilocaine, the total amount of MMEs administered was significantly lower in the bupivacaine group (n = 60, 16.3 vs 6.3, P = .049). Also, the amount of MMEs administered and median pain scores were significantly lower after intrathecal bupivacaine in the recovery room (MMEs 11.0 vs 0.0, P = .012 and numeric rating scale 2.0 vs 1.5, P = .004). On the surgical ward, median MMEs administered, and pain scores were comparable. Postoperative outcomes were similar in both groups. Spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine was associated with less opioid use and better pain reduction immediately after surgery compared to prilocaine within an accelerated ERP for elective, oncological colon surgery.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Spine Pathways and the Role of Perioperative Checklists.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) proposes a multimodal, evidence-based approach to perioperative care. ERAS pathways have been shown to help reduce complications, hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rates, pain scores, and ultimately surgical costs, while improving patient satisfaction scores and outcomes in multiple surgical subspecialties [1-6]. Numerous specialties have implemented ERAS programs across the globe, providing a foundation for spine surgeons to begin the process themselves. Over the last few years, a significant number of papers have been addressing ERAS pathways for spinal surgery [7-19]. The majority have addressed the lumbar spine [9, 20-26]. The number of cervical ERAS pathways has been limited [27-29]. Many spine programs have begun the implementation of ERAS pathways, incorporating principles and interventions to various spine surgical procedures. Although differences in implementation across programs exist, there are a few common elements that promote a successful enhanced recovery approach [11, 16, 23, 25, 30-33]. All spinal ERAS pathways have three major elements, which are preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative phases. Within these phases some common elements include preoperative and intraoperative surgical checklists. Intraoperative checklist in addition to the "surgical time out" has been integrated into the workflow of most hospitals doing surgeries and have become a standard of care. The surgical checklist is designed to help reduce surgical errors and prevent wrong site/patient surgeries. Several surgical checklists have been developed throughout the years. Despite these safety protocols wrong site/level and other surgical errors continue to occur. Many cases of wrong level spine surgery (WLSS) still occur even when intraoperative imaging is performed [34, 35]. One survey reported that about 50% of spine surgeons have performed at least one WLSS during their career [36, 37]. Another survey reported that 36% of spine surgeons had performed at least one WLSS that was not recognized intraoperatively [38]. On a similar account, about 30% of spine surgery fellows have experienced wrong-site surgery [39]. From raw incidence rates, WLSS may seem rare, but these surveys show that the experience of WLSS is rather common among spine surgeons. WLSS is not yet a "never event." This may be due to poor quality of the intraoperative images, hindering subsequent level identification [34, 35, 38, 40]. Errors in interpretation of the imaging may also occur, including inconsistency in numbering vertebrae, inconsistency in landmark usage for level counting, and problems with numbering vertebrae due to lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) and other anatomical variants [34, 38, 41-43]. This chapter will describe a framework for the development and implementation of ERAS pathway for patients undergoing spine surgery. In addition, we will propose preoperative imaging guidelines and a comprehensive spine surgical checklist to incorporate into the perioperative phase to help reduce further surgical errors and WLSS.

Supportive Care Needs of Patients With Temporary Ostomy in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a global surgical quality improvement initiative, reduces the length of stay in the hospital. Temporary stoma care for rectal cancer is complex, and patients require prolonged care services to adjust to the stoma. The shorter stay durations in the new model challenge the conventional care pathways and create new patient needs. PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the supportive care needs of patients under the new surgical model to provide a reference for the design of ERAS nursing care plans. METHODS: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used in this study. Patients with temporary stomas for rectal cancer were recruited using a convenience sampling method in gastrointestinal surgery wards and wound & stoma clinics in two public tertiary care hospitals in China. Standardized questionnaires were administered to 140 patients to collect quantitative data, and semistructured interviews were conducted individually with 13 patients to collect qualitative data. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: "Health system and information needs" and "care and support needs" were identified in both the qualitative and quantitative analyses as the most significant unmet needs of the participants. In addition, the qualitative analysis identified receiving focused stoma care instructions and easily understandable information as essential to fulfilling health system and information needs. Care and support needs included access to continued postdischarge services and attention from medical professionals. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The participants in this study experienced a variety of unmet supportive care needs under the ERAS protocol, with gaps particularly notable in two categories: "health system and information needs" and "care and support needs." Increased perioperative care and shorter hospital stays under the ERAS protocol reduce opportunities for patients to receive targeted instruction and shift much of the ostomy education and care workload out of the hospital, requiring greater attention from clinical nurses to ensure quality of care.

The implementation of an inflammatory bowel disease-specific enhanced recovery after surgery protocol: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols has resulted in improved postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery. The evidence regarding feasibility and impact on outcomes in surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is limited. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study, comparing patient trajectories before and after implementing an IBD-specific ERAS protocol at Zealand University Hospital. We assessed the occurrence of serious postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher as our primary outcome, with postoperative length of stay in days and rate of readmissions as secondary outcomes, using χ2, Mann-Whitney test, and odds ratios adjusted for sex and age. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2023, 394 patients were operated on for IBD and included in our study. In the ERAS cohort, 39/250 patients experienced a postoperative complication of Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher compared to 27/144 patients in the non-ERAS cohort (15.6% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.420) with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.73 (95% CI 0.42-1.28). There was a significantly shorter postoperative length of stay (median 4 vs. 6 days, p < 0.001) in the ERAS cohort compared to the non-ERAS cohort. Readmission rates remained similar (22.4% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.125). CONCLUSIONS: ERAS in IBD surgery was associated with faster patient recovery, but without an impact on the occurrence of serious postoperative complications and rate of readmissions.

Motivational Interviewing improves postoperative nutrition goals within the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS®) pathway in elective bowel surgery - A randomized clinical pilot trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Exploration whether Motivational Interviewing (MI) could be learned and implemented with ease within a surgical in-hospital setting and whether participation in the intervention led to significantly higher compliance with ERAS®-recommended protein intake goals. The individual healing process of many patients is delayed because they fail to cover their calorie requirement, which could be counteracted by a patient-centered conversational intervention that is new in perioperative practice. METHODS: This patient-blinded pilot-RCT included 60 patients (≥18 years) following the certified ERAS® bowel protocol for colorectal surgery between March and August 2022. Five perioperative MI interventions were conducted by two health employees certified to perform MI. Key endpoints were the number of protein shakes drunk, calories of proteins ingested and overall calorie intake. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients (34 men [56.7%]; mean [SD] age, 60.7 [13.3] years) were randomized. MI patient-group had significantly higher protein shake intake on all postoperative days except day 3. For days 0-3 MI group drank significantly more shakes overall (median 5.5 vs. 2.0; P = 0.004) and consumed more calories (median 1650.0 vs. 600.0 kcal; P = 0.004) and proteins (median 110.0 vs. 40.0 g; P = 0.005). Total calorie intake for each day by shakes and dietary intake was significantly higher in the MI-intervention group on day 2 (mean 1772.3 vs. 1358.9 kcal; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: MI may contribute to improve compliance with nutritional goals in the certified ERAS® protocol by increasing protein and calorie intake. The findings suggest further investigation of MI to help patients achieve their perioperative nutrition goals in different clinical settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS - Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; DRKS-ID: DRKS00027863; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00027863.

A pilot model of care to achieve next-day discharge in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty in an Australian public hospital setting.

Objectives Internationally, hip or knee arthroplasty (TJA) with a 1-day hospital length of stay (LOS) is common and demonstrates improved patient and health service outcomes. This study aimed to develop and pilot an enhanced recovery program (ERP) for patients undergoing TJA to achieve a next-day discharge in an Australian public hospital setting. Methods A project lead and six perioperative clinical craft group leads developed an ERP protocol based on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles. Strict patient eligibility criteria were developed. Quality improvement methodology was used to implement the ERP. A patient navigator was put in place as a single contact point for patients. Results A total of 825 patients were screened for the ERP and 47 patients completed the protocol. The mean ± standard deviation (s.d.) of the LOS was 34.7 (± 7.2) h with 41 patients (87%) achieving next-day discharge, the remaining six (13%) discharged on Day 2. Compliance with ERAS was high (96%) with mobilisation within 12 h occurring on 87% of occasions. There were no adverse events. Patient experience was positive. Conclusion Next-day discharge was achieved with a selected cohort of patients with no adverse events and positive patient experience, using a multidisciplinary approach and an improvement framework. Broadening inclusion criteria will make ERP available to more patients.

A Look Forward and a Look Back: The Growing Role of ERAS Protocols in Orthopedic Surgery.

The success of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs in general surgery are widely recognized. ERAS guidelines have now been developed in orthopedics with the following recommendations. Preoperatively, patients should be medically optimized with a focus on smoking cessation, education, and anxiety reduction. Intraoperatively, using multimodal and regional therapies like neuraxial anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks facilitates same-day discharge. Postoperatively, early nutrition with appropriate thromboprophylaxis and early mobilization are essential. As the evidence of their improvement in patient outcomes and satisfaction continues, these pathways will prove invaluable in optimizing patient care in orthopedics.

A feasibility study on preoperative carbohydrate loading in older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative carbohydrate loading in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery is an independent predictor of postoperative outcomes. By reducing the impact of surgical stress response, fasting-induced insulin resistance is modulated. As a clear fluid, consuming carbohydrate drink is safe up to 2 h preoperatively. Widely practiced in abdominal surgeries, its implementation in hip fracture surgeries is yet to be recognized. This study aimed to identify the feasibility of preoperative carbohydrate loading in hip fracture surgery and assess its clinical effects. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled, open labelled trial. Patients ≥ 65 years old without diabetes mellitus, has hip fracture were recruited in a tertiary hospital between November 2020 and May 2021. The intervention was carbohydrate loading versus standard preoperative fasting. RESULTS: Thirty-four ASA I-III patients (carbohydrate loading and control, n = 17 each), mean age 78 years (SEM ± 1.5), mean body mass index 23.7 (SEM ± 0.6 kg/m2) were recruited. Analysis for feasibility of carbohydrate loading (n = 17) demonstrated attrition rate of 29% (n = 5). Otherwise, all recruited patients were compliant (100% compliance) with no adverse events reported. There was no significant difference among groups in the postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain score, fatigue level, muscle strength, postoperative infection and length of hospital stay assessed at 24-48 h postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The implementation of preoperative carbohydrate loading was found to be feasible preoperatively in hip fracture surgeries but requires careful coordination among multidisciplinary teams. An adequately powered randomized controlled study is needed to examine the full benefits of preoperative carbohydrate loading in this group of patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04614181, date of registration: 03/11/2020).

Rethinking postoperative care: same-day ileostomy closure discharge improves patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The evolution of enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) in colon and rectal surgery has led to the development of same-day discharge (SDD) procedures for selected patients. Early discharge after diverting loop ileostomy (DLI) closure was first described in 2003. However, its widespread adoption remains limited, with SDD accounting for only 3.2% of all DLI closures in 2005-2006, according to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, and rising to just 4.1% by 2016. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of SDD DLI closure with those of DLI closure after the standard ERP. METHODS: A retrospective case-matched study compared 125 patients undergoing SDD DLI closure with 250 patients undergoing DLI closure after the standard ERP based on age (±1 year), sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, body mass index, surgery date (±2 months), underlying disease, and hospital site. The primary outcome was comparative 30-day complication rates. RESULTS: Patients in the traditional ERP group received more intraoperative fluids (1221.1 ± 416.6 vs 1039.0 ± 368.3 mL, P < .001) but had similar estimated blood loss. Ten patients (8%) in the SDD-ERP group failed SDD. The 30-day postoperative complication rate was significantly lower in the SDD group (14.8%) than the standard ERP group (25.7%, P = .025). This difference was primarily driven by a lower incidence of ileus in the SDD group (9.6% vs 14.8%, P = .034). There were no significant differences in readmission rate (9.6% of SDD-ERP vs 9.2% of standard ERP, P = .900) and reoperation rates (3.2% of SDD-ERP vs 2.4% of standard ERP, P = .650). CONCLUSION: SDD ileostomy closure is a safe, feasible, and effective procedure associated with fewer complications than the present study's standard ERP. This could represent a new standard of care. Further prospective trials are required to confirm the findings of this study.