Current practice patterns in the perioperative management of patients undergoing radical cystectomy: Results from a global survey.

Abstract

To determine current practice patterns and adherence to various components of enhanced recovery after surgery in cystectomy (ERAC) protocol for peri-operative management of radical cystectomy patients through a global survey. A survey containing 25 questions and addressing 15 of the 22 items of the ERAC protocol was developed and disseminated through Email to the urologists with recent bladder cancer publications. The mailing list was generated by retrieving Email-ids of corresponding authors of articles using the keyword "cystectomy" in Scopus from January 2018 to October 2020. The survey was completed by 443 respondents across the globe. About 51.5% of respondents used some form of bowel preparation. A minority used carbohydrate loading (29.8%) and Alvimopan (13.3%). A short duration of nil by mouth was practised by 28.9%. For antibiotic prophylaxis, 51.7% used one, and 42% used two antibiotics. Duration of antibiotics was 24 hours, 48 hours, and >48 hours for 47.6%, 16.9%, and 35.4%, respectively. For peri-operative analgesia, 43.6% used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 9.3% opioids and 40.6% combination of both. Pharmacological thrombo-prophylaxis was routinely used by 74.7% respondents. There was significant variability in ERAC and non-ERAC components according to region of practice; The open surgical approach was most commonly used in Africa (92%), whereas it was the robotic approach in North America (or America?) (41%). The use of bowel preparation was higher in Asia (58%) and Africa (65%). Alvimopan use was more common in North America (58%). Most used 1 or 2 prophylactic antibiotics but the duration was shorter (<24 hours) in the Americas and European (58%-83%) compared to Asia and Africa (15%-35%). There is high variability in the use of different ERAC components. Other than the timely removal of the abdominal drain and the use of thromboprophylaxis, the overall adherence of ERAC components is low.