ERAS® Cardiac Society Turnkey Order Set for Surgical Site Infection Prevention: Proceedings from the AATS ERAS Conclave 2023.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after cardiac surgery increase morbidity and mortality, consume healthcare resources, impair recovery, and diminish patients' quality of life. Numerous guidelines and expert consensus documents have been published to address the prevention and management of SSIs. Our objective is to integrate these documents into an order set that will facilitate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based best practices for preventing and managing SSIs following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Subject matter experts were consulted to translate existing guidelines and literature into a sample turnkey order set (TKO) for SSI reduction. Orders derived from consistent Class I, IIA, or equivalent recommendations across referenced guidelines and consensus manuscripts appear in the TKO in bold type. Selected orders that were inconsistent Class I or IIA, Class IIB or otherwise supported by published evidence, were also included in italicized type. RESULTS: Preventative care begins with the preoperative identification of both modifiable and non-modifiable SSI risks by healthcare providers. Assessment tools can be utilized to assist in identifying patients at a high risk of SSI. Preoperative recommendations include screening for and treating Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage. Intraoperatively, tailored prophylactic intravenous antibiotics and maintaining blood glucose levels below 180 mg/dL are essential elements. Postoperative care includes maintaining normothermia, glucose control and patient engagement. CONCLUSION: Despite the well-documented advantages of a multidisciplinary care pathway for SSI in cardiac surgery, there are inconsistencies in its adoption and implementation. This manuscript provides an order set that incorporates recommendations from existing guidelines to prevent SSI in the cardiac surgical population.

Personality characteristics of Dutch nurse anesthetists and surgical nurses when compared to the normative Dutch population, a quantitative survey study.

BACKGROUND: Working in the perioperative context is complex and challenging. The continual evaluation in this environment underscores the need for adaptability to technological advancements, and requires substantial allocation of resources for training and education. This study aimed to explore personality characteristics of nurse anesthetists and surgical nurses that are instrumental for sustainable employability in technologically advanced environment. METHODS: Exploratory, cross-sectional survey study including nurse anesthetists and surgical nurses, both certified and in training, and a sample of the normative Dutch population. Personality characteristics were identified with the Big Five Inventory, which consisted of 60 items answered on a five-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). RESULTS: Specific personality traits were found for nurse anesthetists and surgical nurses when compared to the normative Dutch population. Traits of both nurse anesthetists and surgical nurses differed significantly on all domains of the Big Five Inventory, with the largest differences found within the dimension negative emotionally. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role of specific personality traits in maintaining employability within the rapidly evolving and technologically advanced landscape of healthcare. It emphasizes the relationship between individual traits and professional excellence, being crucial educational strategies for overall improvement in healthcare.

Associations of preoperative anaemia with healthcare resource use and outcomes after colorectal surgery: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative anaemia is common in patient undergoing colorectal surgery. Understanding the population-level costs of preoperative anaemia will inform development and evaluation of anaemia management at health system levels. METHODS: This was a population-based cohort study using linked, routinely collected data, including residents from Ontario, Canada, aged ≥18 yr who underwent an elective colorectal resection between 2012 and 2022. Primary exposure was preoperative anaemia (haemoglobin <130 g L-1 in males; <120 g L-1 in females). Primary outcome was 30-day costs in 2022 Canadian dollars (CAD), from the perspective of a publicly funded healthcare system. Secondary outcomes included red blood cell transfusion, major adverse events (MAEs), length of stay (LOS), days alive at home (DAH), and readmissions. RESULTS: We included 54,286 patients, with mean 65.3 (range 18-102) years of age and 49.0% females, among which 21 264 (39.2%) had preoperative anaemia. There was an absolute adjusted cost increase of $2671 per person at 30 days after surgery attributable to preoperative anaemia (ratio of means [RoM] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.06). Compared with the control group, 30-day risks of transfusion (odds ratio [OR] 4.34, 95% CI 4.04-4.66), MAEs (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.27), LOS (RoM 1.08, 95% CI 1.07-1.10), and readmissions (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08-1.24) were higher in the anaemia group, with reduced DAH (RoM 0.95, 95% CI 0.95-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately $2671 CAD per person in 30-day health system costs are attributable to preoperative anaemia after colorectal surgery in Ontario, Canada.

Enhanced recovery after liver surgery in cirrhotic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in liver surgery for cirrhotic patients. The present meta-analysis assessed the impact of ERAS pathways on outcomes after liver surgery in cirrhotic patients compared to standard care. METHODS: A literature search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Studies comparing ERAS protocols versus standard care in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver surgery were included. The primary outcome was post-operative complications, while secondary outcomes were mortality rates, length of stay (LoS), readmissions, reoperations, and liver failure rates. RESULTS: After evaluating 41 full-text manuscripts, 5 articles totaling 646 patients were included (327 patients in the ERAS group and 319 in the non-ERAS group). Compared to non-ERAS care, ERAS patients had less risk of developing overall complications (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.31-0.61, p < 0.001). Hospitalization was on average 2 days shorter for the ERAS group (mean difference - 2.04, 95% CI - 3.19 to - 0.89, p < 0.001). Finally, no difference was found between both groups concerning 90-day post-operative mortality and rates of reoperations, readmissions, and liver failure. CONCLUSION: In cirrhotic patients, ERAS protocol for liver surgery is safe and decreases post-operative complications and LoS. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the results of the present analysis.

Timed Up and Go test score and factors associated with a moderate-to-high risk of future falls in patients scheduled for vascular surgeries-a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Peripheral artery and aorta diseases contribute to complex consequences in various areas, as well as increasing physical and mental discomfort resulting from the progressive limitation or loss of functional capacities, in particular in relation to walking, decreased endurance during physical exercise, a drop in effort tolerance, and pain suffered by patients. Limitations in functional capacities also increase the risk of falls. Most falls take place during the performance of simple activities. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with moderate-to-high risk of future falls in patients scheduled for vascular surgeries. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients aged 33-87, scheduled for vascular surgeries. Based on the Timed Up and Go test, patients were categorized as having a moderate-to-high (≥ 10 s) or low risk of falls. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to assess the relationship between fall-risk levels and independent sociodemographic and clinical variables. Results: Forty-eight percent of patients were categorized as having a moderate-to-high risk of future falls. Females (OR = 1.67; Cl95%: 1.07-2.60) and patients who suffered from hypertension (OR = 2.54; Cl95%: 1.19-5.40) were associated with a moderate-to-high risk of future falls. The Barthel Index correlated negatively (OR = 0.69; Cl95%: 0.59-0.80), while age correlated positively with fall-risk levels (OR = 1.07; Cl95%: 1.02-1.12). Conclusion: Factors that may be associated with a moderate-to-high risk of future falls in patients scheduled for vascular surgeries include age, female gender, hypertension, and the Barthel Index.

Acute lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome after radical cystectomy.

Lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome (LPCS) is a rare diagnosis, seen in patients chronically after repeated lumbar trauma or acutely in a postoperative setting. Only a dozen cases are documented worldwide, and to date no clinical guidelines exist for the diagnosis nor the treatment.We describe the case of a 44-year-old man with excruciating lower back pain following a radical cystectomy. The postoperative laboratory values were compatible with acute rhabdomyolysis. The lumbar spine MRI showed necrosis of lumbosacral paraspinal muscles, making the diagnosis of acute LPCS. After seeking advice from different specialists, the conservative approach was chosen with combined pain treatment and physiotherapy. The patient is currently still disabled for some tasks and needs chronic pain medication.

Bridging the gap: understanding Belgian anesthesiologists' proficiency and training demands in gastric point-of-care ultrasound, a case-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary aspiration syndrome remains a significant complication of general anesthesia, particularly in unfasted patients. Gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) allows for both qualitative and quantitative assessment of gastric content, providing a safe and reliable method to assess gastric emptying and reduce the risk of aspiration during general anesthesia. METHODS: The survey was distributed to Belgian certified anesthesiologists and trainees between April 2020 and June 2021. Participants received a simulated clinical case of a patient at risk of gastric aspiration, created and approved by two certified anesthesiologists trained to perform gastric POCUS. The objectives of this study were to assess recognition of high-risk clinical situations for gastric aspiration, awareness of the gastric POCUS and its indications, and knowledge of the technical and practical conditions of the procedure among respondents trained in the technique. Furthermore, the study assessed the state of training in gastric POCUS, the desire for education, and the practical availability of ultrasound equipment. The survey used conditional branching to ensure unbiased responses to POCUS-related questions. It included multiple-choice questions, quantitative variables, and 5-point Likert scales. The margin of error was calculated using Daniel's formula, corrected for a finite population. RESULTS: The survey was conducted among 323 anesthesiologists. Only 20.8% (27) recognized the risk of a full stomach based on the patient's history. Anesthesiologists who recognized the indication for gastric POCUS and were trained in the procedure demonstrated good recall of the practical conditions for performing the procedure and interpreting the results. Only 13.08% (31) of all respondents had received training in gastric POCUS, while 72.57% (172) expressed interest in future training. Furthermore, 80.17% (190) of participants had access to adequate ultrasound equipment and 78.90% (187) supported teaching gastric POCUS to anesthesia trainees. CONCLUSIONS: This survey offers insight into the epidemiology, clinical recognition, knowledge, and utilization of gastric POCUS among Belgian anesthesia professionals. The results emphasize the significance of proper equipment and training to ensure the safe and effective implementation of gastric POCUS in anesthesia practice. Additional efforts should focus on improving training and promoting the integration of gastric POCUS into daily clinical practice.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Optimize Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have transformed perioperative care by implementing evidence-based strategies to hasten patient recovery, decrease complications, and shorten hospital stays. However, challenges such as inconsistent adherence and the need for personalized adjustments persist, prompting exploration into innovative solutions. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offers a promising avenue for optimizing ERAS protocols. While ERAS emphasizes preoperative optimization, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), and standardized postoperative care, challenges such as adherence variability and resource constraints impede its effectiveness. AI/ML technologies offer opportunities to overcome these challenges by enabling real-time risk prediction, personalized interventions, and efficient resource allocation. AI/ML applications in ERAS extend to patient risk stratification, personalized care plans, and outcome prediction. By analyzing extensive patient datasets, AI/ML algorithms can predict individual patient risks and tailor interventions accordingly. Moreover, AI/ML facilitates proactive interventions through predictive modeling of postoperative outcomes, optimizing resource allocation, and enhancing patient care. Despite the potential benefits, integrating AI and ML into ERAS protocols faces obstacles such as data access, ethical considerations, and healthcare professional training. Overcoming these challenges requires a human-centered approach, fostering collaboration among clinicians, data scientists, and patients. Transparent communication, robust cybersecurity measures, and ethical model validation are crucial for successful integration. It is essential to ensure that AI and ML complement rather than replace human expertise, with clinicians maintaining oversight and accountability.

Comparing Charlson Comorbidity Index Scores between Anesthesiologists, Patients, and Administrative Data: A Prospective Observational Study.

(1) Background: Patients' comorbidities play an immanent role in perioperative risk assessment. It is unknown how Charlson Comorbidity Indices (CCIs) from different sources compare. (2) Methods: In this prospective observational study, we compared the CCIs of patients derived from patients' self-reports and from physicians' assessments with hospital administrative data. (3) Results: The data of 1007 patients was analyzed. Agreement between the CCI from patients' self-report compared to administrative data was fair (kappa 0.24 [95%CI 0.2-0.28]). Agreement between physicians' assessment and the administrative data was also fair (kappa 0.28 [95%CI 0.25-0.31]). Physicians' assessment and patients' self-report had the best agreement (kappa 0.33 [95%CI 0.30-0.37]). The CCI calculated from the administrative data showed the best predictability for in-hospital mortality (AUROC 0.86 [95%CI 0.68-0.91]), followed by equally good prediction from physicians' assessment (AUROC 0.80 [95%CI 0.65-0.94]) and patients' self-report (AUROC 0.80 [95%CI 0.75-0.97]). (4) Conclusions: CCIs derived from patients' self-report, physicians' assessments, and administrative data perform equally well in predicting postoperative in-hospital mortality.

Effect of an intravenous acetaminophen/ibuprofen fixed-dose combination on postoperative opioid consumption and pain after video-assisted thoracic surgery: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) often induces significant postoperative pain, potentially leading to chronic pain and decreased quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the acetaminophen/ibuprofen combination effectiveness in reducing analgesic requirements and pain intensity in patients undergoing VATS. STUDY DESIGN: This is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Adult patients scheduled for elective VATS for lung resection were randomized to receive either intravenous acetaminophen and ibuprofen (intervention group) or 100 mL normal saline (control group). Treatments were administered post-anesthesia induction and every 6 h for three cycles. The primary outcome was total analgesic consumption at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were cumulative analgesic consumption at 2 and 48 h; analgesic-related side effects at 2, 24, and 48 h; quality of recovery at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively; pain intensity at rest and during coughing; and rescue analgesics use. Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) was assessed through telephone interviews 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The study included 96 participants. The intervention group showed significantly lower analgesic consumption at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively (24 h: median difference: - 100 µg equivalent intravenous fentanyl [95% confidence interval (CI) - 200 to - 5 µg], P = 0.037; 48 h: median difference: - 140 µg [95% CI - 320 to - 20 µg], P = 0.035). Compared to the controls, the intervention group exhibited a significantly lower quality of recovery 24 h post-surgery, with no significant difference at 48 h. All pain scores except for coughing at 48 h post-surgery were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the controls. No significant differences were observed between the groups in postoperative nausea and vomiting occurrence, hospital stay length, and CPSP. CONCLUSION: Perioperative administration of acetaminophen/ibuprofen significantly decreased analgesic needs in patients undergoing VATS, providing an effective postoperative pain management strategy, and potentially minimizing the need for stronger analgesics.

Patient-Centerdness in the Perioperative Period-A Rapid Review of Current Research.

PURPOSE: The indication of surgery is a critical moment in a person's life implying different needs, feelings, or fears. The aim of the current literature review was to elucidate the prevailing utilization of the concepts 'patient-centerdness' and 'person-centerdness' within the perioperative period. DESIGN: A rapid review design. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus (Elsevier), American Psychological Association PsychInfo (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (Ovid), and Cochrane Library in December 2022. Rayyan software was used to assess the articles. Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to evaluate the quality of the included articles. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes across the articles. FINDINGS: The electronic database searches identified 1,967 articles. A total of 12 articles were assessed in full text against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally, a total of seven articles were included. The articles originated from six countries, employed disparate methodological approaches, and featured a heterogeneous array of participants representing various health care settings. Patient-centerdness held the mantle as the most prominently used concept across the seven articles, whereas person-centerdness emerged as the least frequently explored concept. One theme was identified across the articles; Preparedness. This was related to shared decision-making and information pre, peri- and postoperative. CONCLUSIONS: This rapid review suggests that patient preparedness, particularly through shared decision-making and providing information, is a recurring theme in the limited studies on patient- or person-centerdness in the perioperative context. The fact that only one single study focuses on person-centered care underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of modern perioperative care.

Effects of mindfulness-based preoperative intervention for patients undergoing elective surgery: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients often experience pain and psychological distress when undergoing elective surgeries. Mindfulness-based interventions have been proposed as potential strategies to address these challenges. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative mindfulness-based interventions on several outcomes for patients undergoing elective surgery, including preoperative anxiety/depression, postoperative anxiety/depression, postoperative pain, and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: This meta-analysis encompassed randomized controlled trials published in the database PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase to August 2023. Mindfulness-based interventions were compared to control groups, who received treatment as usual (TAU). The RevMan software was employed to assess each outcome by using standardized mean difference based on patient-reported data. Subgroup analyses were further performed according to different categories of surgical types. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with a total of 685 patients were identified. This meta-analysis demonstrated significant difference in preoperative anxiety (SMD:-0.36, 95% CI: -0.62 to -0.11, p = .006) and postoperative pain immediately (SMD:-0.65,95% CI: -1.09 to -0.20, p = .004), 2-3 days (SMD:-0.40, 95% CI:-0.78 to -0.02, p = .04),at 14 days (SMD:-0.48,95% CI: -0.85 to -0.12, p = .009) and 28 days (SMD:-0.89,95% CI: -1.55 to -0.23, p = .008) postoperatively. However, there were no differences between postoperative anxiety, preoperative/postoperative depression, and QOL. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest preoperative mindfulness-based interventions can effectively manage preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain in patients scheduled for elective surgery. Further research is warranted to explore the different timing and types of mindfulness-based intervention.

Efficacy and utility of antifibrinolytics in pediatric spine surgery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Antifibrinolytics have gained increasing attention in minimizing blood loss and mitigating the risks associated with massive transfusions, including infection and coagulopathy in pediatric patients undergoing spine surgery. Nevertheless, the selection of optimal agent is still a matter of debate. We aim to review the utility of these agents and compare the efficacy of antifibrinolytics in pediatric and adolescent spine surgeries. A comprehensive search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases for relevant works. Studies providing quantitative data on predefined outcomes were included. Primary outcome was perioperative bleeding between the groups. Secondary outcomes included transfusion volume, rate of complications, and operation time. Twenty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis incorporating 2553 patients. The use of Tranexamic acid (RoM: 0.71, 95%CI: [0.62-0.81], p < 0.001, I2 = 88%), Aprotinin (RoM: 0.54, 95%CI: [0.46-0.64], p < 0.001, I2 = 0%), and Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (RoM: 0.71, 95%CI: [0.62-0.81], p < 0.001, I2 = 60%) led to a 29%, 46%, and 29% reduction in perioperative blood loss, respectively. Network meta-analysis revealed higher probability of efficacy with Tranexamic acid compared to Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (P score: 0.924 vs. 0.571). The rate of complications was not statistically different between each two antifibrinolytic agent or antifibrinolytics compared to placebo or standard of care. Our network meta-analysis suggests a superior efficacy of all antifibrinolytics compared to standard of care/placebo in reducing blood loss and transfusion rate. Further adequately-powered randomized clinical trials are recommended to reach definite conclusion on comparative performance of these agents and to also provide robust objective assessments and standardized outcome data and safety profile on antifibrinolytics in pediatric and adolescent pediatric surgeries.

Intraoperative methadone for day-case gynaecological laparoscopy: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Optimal pain relief in day-case surgery is imperative to patient comfort and timely discharge from hospital. Short-acting opioids are commonly used for analgesia in modern anaesthesia, allowing rapid recovery after surgery. Plasma concentration fluctuations from repeated dosing of short-acting opioids can cause patients to oscillate between analgesia with potential adverse effects, and inadequate analgesia requiring rescue dosing. Methadone's unique pharmacology may offer effective and sustained analgesia with less opioid consumption, potentially reducing adverse effects. Using a double-blind, randomised controlled trial, we compared post-anaesthesia care unit opioid consumption between day-case gynaecological laparoscopy patients who received either intravenous methadone (10 mg), or short-acting opioids intraoperatively. The primary outcome was post-anaesthesia care unit opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents. Secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption, discharge opioid consumption, pain scores (0-10) until discharge, adverse effects (respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting, excess sedation), and rate of admission. Seventy patients were randomly assigned. Patients who received methadone consumed on average 9.44 mg fewer oral morphine equivalents in the post-anaesthesia care unit than the short-acting group (18.02 mg vs 27.46 mg, respectively, 95% confidence interval 0.003 to 18.88, P = 0.050) and experienced lower postoperative pain scores at every time point, although absolute differences were small. There was no evidence of lower hospital or discharge opioid consumption. No significant differences between the methadone and short-acting groups in other outcomes were identified: respiratory depression 41.2% versus 31.4%, Padjusted >0.99; postoperative nausea and vomiting 29.4% versus 42.9%, Padjusted >0.99; overnight admission 17.7% versus 11.4%, Padjusted >0.99; excess sedation 8.82% versus 8.57%, Padjusted >0.99. This study provides evidence that, although modestly, methadone can reduce post-anaesthesia care unit opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores after day-case gynaecological laparoscopy. There were no significant differences in any secondary outcomes.

Preoperative risk prediction models for acute kidney injury after noncardiac surgery: an independent external validation cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Numerous models have been developed to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after noncardiac surgery, yet there is a lack of independent validation and comparison among them. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search to review published risk prediction models for AKI after noncardiac surgery. An independent external validation was performed using a retrospective surgical cohort at a large Chinese hospital from January 2019 to October 2022. The cohort included patients undergoing a wide range of noncardiac surgeries with perioperative creatinine measurements. Postoperative AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria. Model performance was assessed in terms of discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUROC), calibration (calibration plot), and clinical utility (net benefit), before and after model recalibration through intercept and slope updates. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by including patients without postoperative creatinine measurements in the validation cohort and categorising them as non-AKI cases. RESULTS: Nine prediction models were evaluated, each with varying clinical and methodological characteristics, including the types of surgical cohorts used for model development, AKI definitions, and predictors. In the validation cohort involving 13,186 patients, 650 (4.9%) developed AKI. Three models demonstrated fair discrimination (AUROC between 0.71 and 0.75); other models had poor or failed discrimination. All models exhibited some miscalibration; five of the nine models were well-calibrated after intercept and slope updates. Decision curve analysis indicated that the three models with fair discrimination consistently provided a positive net benefit after recalibration. The results were confirmed in the sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We identified three models with fair discrimination and potential clinical utility after recalibration for assessing the risk of acute kidney injury after noncardiac surgery.

Psychometric evaluation of the modified quality of recovery score for the postanaesthesia care unit (QoR-PACU2) - a prospective validation study.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no instrument to adequately assess self-reported quality of recovery (QoR) in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). We previously developed the QoR-PACU, a 13-item questionnaire specifically applicable to the PACU. The feasibility, acceptance, and validity of the QoR-PACU were promising. However, measures of reliability were slightly lower than expected. METHODS: We modified the QoR-PACU and evaluated its psychometric properties in a cohort of adult patients scheduled for non-cardiac surgery with general anesthesia. The modified QoR-PACU (termed QoR-PACU2) was administered before surgery and postoperatively in the PACU at the time of the decision to discharge. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included in the final analysis. Postoperative QoR-PACU2 sum scores differed across categories of sex, perioperative and surgical risk, and modes of airway management. The duration of anesthesia and surgery, maximum pain intensity and analgesic requirement in the PACU, and length of PACU stay were all inversely correlated with QoR in the PACU. Cronbach's alpha was 0.70 (95%CI: 0.66 to 0.75). The intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.86 (95%CI: 0.70 to 0.94, p < 0.001) for intra-rater reliability (n=24) and 0.94 (95%CI 0.90 to 0.97, p < 0.001) for inter-rater reliability (n=31). Cohen's effect size was 0.68 and the standardized response mean was 0.57. CONCLUSION: The QoR-PACU2 assesses self-reported QoR after surgery in the PACU. Measures of feasibility, validity, and reliability were consistently high. Measures of responsiveness were moderate, which might be attributable to the heterogeneity of the study population. Future studies should include aspects of ethnicity and cross-cultural applicability.

Patient Experience Pre-Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol: A Qualitative Investigation.

Objective: This study explores the experience of adults undergoing major abdominal surgery pre-implementation of an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery program at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, to enhance health promotion in Australian hospitals. Methodology: Patients who were undergoing major abdominal surgery and who consented to participate were recruited in this study. Patients were chosen based on an inclusion-exclusion criterion. In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted by telephone and transcribed verbatim by the primary researcher. Thematic analysis was used and synthesised into five inductive themes. Eighteen participants aged between 51 and 82 years were interviewed. Codes were categorised into inductive themes: 1) preparedness for surgery; 2) communication; 3) aftercare; 4) expectations of surgery; and 5) overall experience utilising an iterative process. The following themes and subthemes emerged from the qualitative synthesis. Results: Patients undergo a variety of experiences throughout the perioperative care period. Patient care and experience may be improved through increased access to patient engagement, information and communication, use of multimedia and teach-back method, optimization of the hospital environment and through providing adequate planning and support on discharge. Conclusion: Evidence of barriers to enhancing patient surgical experience can be used to guide the implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery protocols in Australian hospitals and therefore may limit its generalizability. This will improve health promotion as these findings provide valuable insights into integrative methods that can be considered to be important for achieving person-centred care. This knowledge can be useful in clinical practice, implementation and education programs for ERAS.

Perioperative Health Care Professionals' Knowledge of Evidence-Based Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia Management.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the perioperative health care professionals' knowledge of evidence-based inadvertent perioperative hypothermia management. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional study. METHODS: The research sample consisted of 219 perioperative nurses and anesthesia technicians working in the university hospital and participating in perioperative care. Data were collected by the researchers using a questionnaire that included descriptive characteristics of health care professionals and inadvertent perioperative hypothermia management between March and April 2021. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk normality, Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U, and Spearman correlation test were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: In this study, only 29.2% of the health care professionals knew that the threshold value for inadvertent perioperative hypothermia was <36 °C. The mean knowledge score of health care professionals on the management of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia was 13.78 ± 3.47. The knowledge score of 79.5% of health care professionals was moderate level. A significant correlation was determined between inadvertent perioperative hypothermia management knowledge score and education status (P = .032), task (P < .001), and mean years in the profession (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of the health care professionals working in the perioperative process about evidence-based practices related to inadvertent perioperative hypothermia management was determined to be moderate. We recommend increasing the level of knowledge of health care professionals by providing education on guidelines regarding inadvertent perioperative hypothermia management.

Impact of Flagging/Risk Stratification System on Complications in Hospitalist Hip Fracture Co-management: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Hip fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality, the rates of which can be improved by comprehensive care. To improve hospitalist co-management of hip fractures, we designed and implemented hip fracture template (HFT), a flagging and risk stratification algorithm system. It includes consideration of perioperative management and preventative measures against hip fractures. We examined its effect on morbidity in patients with hip fractures and the factors associated with complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for hip fracture. The primary outcome was the perioperative complication rate, comparing patients managed with and without HFT. Multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, gender, and any significant variables shown in univariate analysis. Results: HFT was used in 121 patients and not used in 147 patients. In univariate analysis, patients were less likely to have complications if HFT was used (19.0% vs. 29.9%, P = 0.047), but there was no difference in length of stay (17 days vs. 17 days, P = 0.27) or in-hospital-mortality (0.8% vs. 0.7%, P = 1.00) between the groups. In adjusted analysis, patients managed by HFT had lower likelihood of complications (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.98). Among patients managed by HFT, those with revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) ≥ 1 were more likely to have complications in both univariate (42.1% vs. 14.7%, P = 0.01) and adjusted analysis (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.03-10.84). Conclusion: Patients with hip fractures managed with HFT were less likely to have complications, especially those with RCRI ≥ 1, suggesting benefits of using HFT.