Implementation and Outcomes of ERAS Protocol for Major Oncologic Head and Neck Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been developed and successfully implemented for many surgical specialties, demonstrating reductions in length of stay, post-operative complications, and resource utilization. Currently, there are few documented applications of ERAS protocols in head and neck surgery. Additional description of head and neck surgery protocol design, implementation, and outcomes will help advance postoperative care. METHODS: An ERAS protocol was designed for patients undergoing glossectomy and primary or salvage laryngectomy with or without free flap reconstruction. Following successful protocol implementation, patient outcomes and perioperative metrics were retrospectively reviewed and compared between patients prior to and following the ERAS protocol. RESULTS: Global comparison of ERAS and control group did not show statistically significant differences in measured perioperative outcomes. There were no statistically significant differences between the ERAS and control groups in age, sex, BMI, surgery type, or cancer stage. The ERAS protocol was associated with reduced variability in hospital length of stay (LOS), demonstrated through tighter interquartile ranges. For patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy, the ERAS protocol was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day readmission rates. Although not statistically significant, the median length of stay in the step-down unit (ISCU) and hospital was lower for specific patient groups. CONCLUSION: The implementation and evaluation of the ERAS protocol demonstrated improvement in select patient outcomes as well as areas for process improvement. This study demonstrates the insights that arise from review of this protocol even for an institution with perceived standardized procedures for major oncologic head and neck surgeries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:732-740, 2024.

Mechanisms of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients Hospitalized for Noncardiac Conditions.

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurring in patients hospitalized for a noncardiac condition is associated with a high mortality rate and thus we sought to determine the mechanisms underlying STEMI in this patient population. This is a single center retrospective study of 70 patients who had STEMI while hospitalized on a noncardiac service and underwent coronary angiography. Thrombotic in-hospital STEMI was defined by angiographic or intravascular imaging evidence of intracoronary thrombus, plaque rupture, or stent thrombosis. Thirty-six (51%) inpatient STEMIs developed in the operating room or various postoperative stages and 6 (9%) after endoscopy or a percutaneous procedure. Thrombotic etiologies were found in 39 (56%) patients. Nonthrombotic etiologies included vasospasm, supply-demand mismatch, and takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Patients in the thrombotic group were more likely to have antiplatelet medications discontinued on admission, had higher peak troponin levels and were more likely to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention than patients in the nonthrombotic group. Exposure to vasopressors, time from ECG to angiography, post-STEMI ejection fraction, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality were similar in both groups. There was no difference in the use of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients but longer ECG to coronary angiography times and fivefold higher in-hospital mortality in thrombotic inpatient STEMI compared with 643 patients who presented with an out-of-hospital STEMI during the same time period. In conclusion, thrombotic and nonthrombotic mechanisms cause STEMI in hospitalized patients and are associated with a high mortality.