An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol for Ambulatory Anorectal Surgery Reduced Postoperative Pain and Unplanned Returns to Care After Discharge.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory surgery for anorectal procedures has been proven to be safe and effective. Specific perioperative pathways combining multiple interventions have been shown to optimize recovery and outcomes associated with inpatient colorectal surgery. However, there are no major studies describing and evaluating a standardized protocol for ambulatory anorectal surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a modified enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for ambulatory anorectal surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from 14 Southern California Kaiser Permanente medical centers. An eight-item protocol including: preoperative education, preoperative distribution of prescriptions, preoperative carbohydrate treatment, multimodal analgesia, preferential use of monitored anesthesia care (MAC), routine use of local anesthesia/regional blocks, intraoperative restriction of intravenous fluids, and post-discharge phone call. Postoperative pain scores and preventable returns to the emergency department or urgent care were assessed. RESULTS: Postoperative pain scores were reduced when all eight elements of the protocol were delivered (p = 0.005). On multivariate analysis, there was reduced postoperative pain when preoperative carbohydrate treatment was completed (p = 0.002), with MAC (p = 0.003), and when multimodal analgesia was used (p = 0.02). There were decreased preventable returns to the emergency department or urgent care when MAC was used (p = 0.03); there were more returns for constipation (p = 0.04) but fewer returns for pain (p = 0.002) after preoperative carbohydrate treatment. Local anesthesia was associated with fewer returns for constipation (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a standardized ERAS protocol for ambulatory anorectal surgery decreased postoperative pain and unplanned return visits to emergency care.

Unplanned emergency department or urgent care visits after outpatient rotator cuff repair: potential for avoidance.

BACKGROUND: With the cost of health care rising, the potential to avoid costs from an unplanned return to the emergency department (ED) or urgent care center (UC) after elective outpatient rotator cuff repair (RCR) has been discussed but not extensively assessed. METHODS: Outpatient RCR procedures were queried in a closed health care system, and all unplanned ED and UC visits within 7 days of procedures were collected and compared with other typical outpatient orthopedic procedures (knee arthroscopy, carpal tunnel release, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction). Avoidable diagnoses (ADs) for the unplanned visits were defined in advance as visits for (1) constipation, (2) nausea or vomiting, (3) pain, and (4) urinary retention. Final tallies of all visits versus visits with ADs were compared. RESULTS: From June 2015 to May 2016, 1306 outpatient RCRs were performed (729 male and 577 female patients; average age, 60 years). Of the patients, 90 returned for ED or UC visits (6.9%), with 34 for ADs (2.6%). Pain was the most common AD. However, when RCR was compared with other case types, ED or UC visits for urinary retention were significantly more common (P = .007), whereas there was no significant difference with the other ADs. The 1306 RCRs led to a greater proportion of ED or UC visits than the combined 5825 other cases studied (P < .001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Unplanned ED visits within 7 days of outpatient RCR are measurable and in many cases, such as ED or UC visits for pain, are avoidable. Visits for urinary retention are seen more commonly after RCR. Outpatient RCR led to more unplanned ED and UC visits than other common outpatient orthopedic surgical procedures.

Same-Day Discharge in Laparoscopic Acute Non-Perforated Appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Small studies done during the past decade have demonstrated same-day discharge after appendectomy as an option for non-perforated appendicitis. Here we have examined a large cohort to confirm that same-day discharge in acute non-perforated appendicitis is a safe option. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of patients from 14 Southern California Region Kaiser Permanente medical centers. All patients older than 18 years of age with acute, non-perforated appendicitis who underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy between 2010 and 2014 were included. We compared patients discharged on the day of surgery with patients hospitalized for 1 night. We examined readmission rates, complication rates, postoperative emergency department visits, postoperative diagnostic or therapeutic radiology visits, reoperations, and cost of treatment. RESULTS: The cohort was composed of 12,703 patients; 6,710 patients were in the same-day discharge group and 5,993 patients were in the hospitalized group. Patients in the same-day discharge group had a lower rate of readmission within 30 days when compared with the hospitalized group (2.2% vs 3.1%; p < 0.005). In both groups, postoperative rates of visits to emergency or radiology department for diagnostic or therapeutic imaging studies were statistically similar. Postoperative general surgery department visits were slightly higher in the hospitalized group (85% vs 81%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adult patients with acute, non-perforated appendicitis can be discharged safely on the day of surgery without higher rates of postoperative complication or readmission rates compared with those hospitalized after surgery. In addition, same-day discharge in this patient group is cost-effective.