Risk of venous thromboembolism for ovarian cancer patients during first-line therapy after implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol.

OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence and risk factors for VTE for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing first-line therapy, including cytoreductive surgery, on an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for patients with FIGO stage IIIA-IVB epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer undergoing primary or interval cytoreductive surgery from March 2017 through September 2019. All patients were enrolled on an ERAS protocol, including 28-day postoperative VTE prophylaxis. Demographic information, medical history, perioperative characteristics, and ERAS compliance were evaluated using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: Of 230 patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery via laparotomy, 155 received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 75 received primary cytoreduction. 38 patients had a VTE during the study period. 13 events (5.7%) were identified at time of diagnosis, 6 (3.9%) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 5 (2.2%) within 30 days after surgery, 5 (2.2%) between 30 days and 6 months after surgery, and 9 (3.9%) after the 6-month window. The cumulative incidence of VTE was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.3-8.8%) within 6 months after diagnosis and 8.5% (6.2-11.4%) within 1 year after diagnosis. Estimated blood loss (adjusted HR 1.22 [95% CI, 1.09-1.36], p = 0.001) and history of VTE (7.06 [2.34-21.29], p = 0.001) were independently associated with VTE. CONCLUSION: With implementation of an ERAS protocol, only 1 in 46 patients experienced a VTE within 30 days after surgery. However, overall VTE occurred in 1 in 16 patients during first-line therapy. Strategies to further reduce VTE risk, especially during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surveillance, should be investigated.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols improve time to return to intended oncology treatment following interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced gynecologic cancers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether the implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is associated with earlier return to intended oncology treatment following interval cytoreductive surgery for advanced gynecologic cancers. METHODS: Participants comprised consecutive patients (n=278) with a preoperative diagnosis of stage IIIC or IV ovarian cancer, divided into those that received treatment before versus after implementation of an ERAS protocol at our institution. All patients received at least three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a platinum based regimen and underwent interval cytoreduction via laparotomy with the intent to deliver additional cycles of chemotherapy postoperatively. The primary outcome was defined as the timely return to intended oncologic treatment, defined as the percentage of patients initiating adjuvant chemotherapy within 28 days postoperatively. RESULTS: The study cohorts included 150 pre-ERAS patients and 128 post-ERAS patients. Median age was 65 years (range 58-71). Most patients (211; 75.9%) had an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3, and the median operative time was 174 min (range 137-219). Median length of stay was 4 days (range 3-5 days) in the pre-ERAS cohort versus 3 days (range 3-4) in the post-ERAS cohort (p<0.0001). At 28 days after operation, 80% of patients had resumed chemotherapy in the post-ERAS cohort compared with 64% in the pre-ERAS cohort (odds ratio (OR) 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36 to 3.84; p=0.002). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the ERAS protocol was the strongest predictor of timely return to intended oncology treatment (OR 10.18, 95% CI 5.35 to 20.32). CONCLUSION: An ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing interval cytoreductive surgery is associated with earlier resumption of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Perioperative glycemic measures among non-fasting gynecologic oncology patients receiving carbohydrate loading in an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative carbohydrate loading is an effective method to control postoperative insulin resistance. However, data are limited concerning the effects of carbohydrate loading on preoperative hyperglycemia and possible impacts on complication rates. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed of patients enrolled in an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway at a single institution. All patients underwent laparotomy for known or suspected gynecologic malignancies. Patients who had been diagnosed with diabetes preoperatively and those prescribed total parenteral nutrition by their providers were excluded. Data regarding preoperative carbohydrate loading with a commercial maltodextrin beverage, preoperative glucose testing, postoperative day 1 glucose, insulin administration, and complications (all complications, infectious complications, and hyperglycemia-related complications) were collected. The primary endpoint of the study was the incidence of postoperative infectious complications, defined as superficial or deep wound infection, organ/space infection, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, sepsis, or septic shock. RESULTS: Of 415 patients, 76.9% had a preoperative glucose recorded. The mean age was 60.5±12.4 years (range 18-93). Of those with recorded glucose values, 30 patients (9.4%) had glucose ≥180 mg/dL, none of whom were actually given insulin preoperatively. Median preoperative glucose value was significantly increased after carbohydrate loading (122.0 mg/dL with carbohydrate loading vs 101.0 mg/dL without, U=3143, p=0.001); however, there was no relationship between carbohydrate loading and complications. There was a significantly increased risk of hyperglycemia-related complications with postoperative day 1 morning glucose values ≥140 mg/dL (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.23; p=0.03). Otherwise, preoperative and postoperative hyperglycemia with glucose thresholds of ≥140 mg/dL or ≥180 mg/dL were not associated with increased risk of other types of complications. DISCUSSION: Carbohydrate loading is associated with increased preoperative glucose values; however, this is not likely to be clinically significant as it does not have an impact on complication rates. Preoperative hyperglycemia is not a risk factor for postoperative complications in a carbohydrate-loaded population when known diabetic patients are excluded. PRECIS: While glucose increased with carbohydrate loading in non-diabetic patients, this was not associated with complications.