Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Patients Research Articles

Evaluation of ERAS protocol implementation on complex spine surgery complications and length of stay: a Single Institution Study

BACKGROUND CONTEXTWith the goal of improving patient outcomes, the Integrated Spine Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center implemented an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol which includes pre- and post-surgery guidelines. Numerous studies have shown benefit of implementation of ERAS protocols to standardize perioperative care in line with best practices; however, the literature on complication rates, LOS, and readmissions shows mixed results. PURPOSEThe goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the ERAS protocol implementation on complication rates in the perioperative period, as well as hospital and ICU length of stay and hospital re-admission rates. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGA retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients who underwent spine surgery between September 2016 and September 2021 at a single institution. Patients who met inclusion criteria were divided into non-ERAS and ERAS groups, and comparative statistics were used to evaluate ERAS protocol effectiveness. PATIENT SAMPLEAll patients who underwent spine surgery at UT Southwestern between September 2016 and September 2021 were evaluated for inclusion in the study. The patient sample was further refined to include only complex patient cases which were able to receive the full ERAS protocol (non-emergent admissions). OUTCOME MEASURESPresence of absence of post-operative complications including surgical site infection, AKI, DVT, MI, sepsis, pneumonia, PE, stroke, shock, and other complications were compared between groups, as were hospital and ICU length of stay, and 7, 30, and 90 day readmissions. Self-reported or functional measures were not used in outcome evaluation. METHODSA database of patient and surgery characteristics was built using an EMR query tool with spot checks performed by the authors. Control and treatment groups were matched for gender, age, BMI, ASA score, and surgery type. Total number of complication rates was compared between ERAS and non-ERAS groups, and comparative statistics were used to determine significance. RESULTSSignificant differences between ERAS versus non-ERAS groups were found in rates of UTI (6.8% vs. 3.1%, respectively; p=.031), constipation (20.6% vs. 11.4%, respectively; p=.001), and any complications (31.4% vs. 19.4%, respectively; p<.001). There was no significant difference in the rates of other complications, in length of hospital or ICU stay, or readmissions at 7, 30, and 90 days. CONCLUSIONSImplementation of the ERAS protocol did not decrease complication rates or length of stay, and ERAS patients had significantly higher rates of UTI, constipation, and any complications. There may have been confounding factors due to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery of care, as well as misalignment between ERAS goals and outcome measures.

The impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on opioid consumption and postoperative pain levels in elective spine surgery

ObjectiveEnhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocols were developed to counteract the adverse effects of the surgical stress response, aiming for quicker postoperative recovery. Initially applied in abdominal surgeries, ERAS principles have extended to orthopedic spine surgery, but research in this area is still in its infancy. The current study investigated the impact of ERAS on postoperative pain and opioid consumption in elective spine surgeries. MethodsA single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing elective spine surgery from May 2019 to July 2020. Patients were categorized into two groups: those enrolled in the ERAS pathway and those adhering to traditional surgical protocols. Data on demographics, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), surgical procedures, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), while opioid utilization was quantified in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). NRS and MME were averaged for each patient across all days under observation. Differences in outcomes between groups (ERAS vs. treatment as usual) were tested using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Pearson’s or Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables. ResultsThe median of patient’s mean daily NRS scores for postoperative pain were not statistically significantly different between groups (median = 5.55 (ERAS) and 5.28 (non-ERAS), p=.2). Additionally, the median of patients’ mean daily levels of MME were similar between groups (median = 17.24 (ERAS) and 16.44 (non-ERAS), p=.3) ERAS patients experienced notably shorter LOS (median=2 days) than their non-ERAS counterparts (median=3 days, p=.001). The effect of ERAS was moderated by whether the patient had ACDF surgery. ERAS (vs. non-ERAS) patients who had ACDF surgery had 1.64 lower average NRS (p=.006). ERAS (vs. non-ERAS) patients who had a different surgery had 0.72 higher average NRS (p=.02) but had almost half the length of stay, on average (p<.001). ConclusionsThe current study underscores the dynamic nature of ERAS protocols within the realm of spine surgery. While ERAS demonstrates advantages such as reduced LOS and improved patient-reported outcomes, it requires careful implementation and customization to address the specific demands of each surgical discipline. The potential to expedite recovery, optimize resource utilization, and enhance patient satisfaction cannot be overstated. However, the fine balance between achieving these benefits and ensuring comprehensive patient care, especially in the context of postoperative pain management, must be maintained. As ERAS continues to evolve and find its place in diverse surgical domains, it is crucial for healthcare providers to remain attentive to patient needs, adapting ERAS protocols to suit individual patient populations and surgical contexts.

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

BackgroundFew 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsAfter 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.ConclusionIn 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.

The effect of enhanced recovery after surgery on oncologic outcome following radical cystectomy for urothelial bladder carcinoma

IntroductionLimited data are available regarding the effect of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols on the long-term outcomes of radical cystectomy (RC) in bladder cancer patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the oncological outcomes in patients who underwent RC with ERAS protocol. MethodsWe reviewed the records of patients who underwent RC for primary urothelial bladder carcinoma with curative intent from January 2003 to August 2022. The primary and secondary outcomes were recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of ERAS on oncological outcomes. ResultsA total of 967 ERAS patients and 1144 non-ERAS patients were included in this study. The RFS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after RC were 81%, 71.5%, and 69% in the ERAS cohort, respectively. This rate in the non-ERAS group was 81%, 71%, and 67% at 1, 3, and 5 years after RC, respectively (P = 0.50). However, ERAS patients had significantly better OS with 86%, 73%, and 67% survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years compared to 84%, 68%, and 59.5% survival rates in the non-ERAS group, respectively (P = 0.002). In multivariable analysis adjusting for other relevant factors, ERAS was no longer independently associated with recurrence-free (HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.76–1.22, P = 0.75) or overall survival (HR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.66–1.09, P = 0.28) following RC. ConclusionERAS protocols are associated with a shorter hospital stay, yet with no impact on long-term oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer.

Effects of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol on the postoperative stress state and short-term complications in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and necessity of enhanced recovery after surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer by observing inflammatory markers and postoperative complications. Hospitalized colorectal cancer patients from the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2021 to September 2022 were included in the study and divided into two groups: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and non-ERAS. Data on postoperative inflammatory markers and complications were also collected. A total of 313 patients with colorectal cancer were included: 182 in the ERAS group and 131 in the non-ERAS group. The patients in the ERAS group had significantly shorter days of postoperative hospitalization, urinary catheter and drainage tube withdrawal times, and recovery of bowel function (P < .05) than those of the non-ERAS group. Moreover, the ERAS group had lower hospitalization expenses than those of the non-ERAS group (P < .05). However, the procalcitonin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in the ERAS group was significantly lower than those in the non-ERAS group on postoperative days 1 and 3 (P < .05), and the interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the non-ERAS group on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th postoperative days (P < .05). The C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) levels in the ERAS group were lower than those in the non-ERAS group on postoperative days 3 and 5 (P < .05). However, the hemoglobin levels did not differ significantly (P > .05). The albumin levels did not differ significantly between the two groups before surgery (P > .05); however, the albumin level in the ERAS group was higher than that in the non-ERAS group on postoperative days 3 and 5 (P < .05). The ERAS patients had lower albumin levels after surgery than those of the non-ERAS patients (P < .05). ERAS leads to a series of perioperative optimization measures, thereby reducing the postoperative stress response in elderly patients with colorectal cancer and the occurrence of perioperative complications.

Conventional versus enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in emergency gastrointestinal tract surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Background Compared with elective operations, emergency abdominal surgery is more likely to result in perioperative morbidity and mortality. Implementation of care programs could be beneficial for such patients to decrease complication rates. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a complex perioperative approach that has proven its efficacy in multiple elective procedures. Nonetheless, its efficacy in emergency abdominal surgery has been questioned. Herein, we compared the ERAS and conventional approaches in the management of such patients. Patients and methods Sixty adult patients were enrolled in our randomized prospective trial, and they were assigned to two groups; the conventional and ERAS groups. The duration of hospitalization was the main outcome. Results Preoperative characteristics, presentation, and surgical operations were comparable between the two study groups. A perforated duodenal ulcer was the most common diagnosis and was treated by through and through suture with the omental patch (36%) followed by resection anastomosis (36%) in patients with ischemic loop or patients with severely injured loops, and primary repair in simple injury (28%). The hospitalization period decreased significantly in ERAS patients (5.9 vs. 10.5 days in the conventional group P&lt;0.001). The ERAS protocol had a significant beneficial impact on postoperative recovery, which manifested in earlier nasogastric tube removal, drain removal, bowel sounds, bowel motion, and oral intake compared with the conventional group. The incidence of postoperative complications especially surgical site infection increased significantly with the conventional perioperative regimen (36.7% vs. 13.3% after ERAS P=0.034). Conclusion ERAS has multiple advantages over the conventional approach when implemented in emergency surgery patients and is recommended in emergency surgical practice.

Practice of Enhanced Recovery after Caesarean Delivery: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial in a Tertiary Hospital in Yaoundé-Cameroon

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a new and evolving concept whereby strategies are put in place in the perioperative period to ensure better and accelerated patient recovery with fewer complications. Being a new protocol in our milieu, the need for pre-implementation trials motivated our study in elective caesarean section (CS) in the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH). Aims: To analyse the benefits of the enhanced recovery after caesarean section program (ERAS) over standard care in women undergoing elective caesarean section in the Yaoundé Gyneco – Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital. Materials and Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial, in the ratio 1:1, from December 2020 to August 2021, compared the ERAS in caesarean section (ERAS-CS) treatment package, with our standard care package (Non-ERAS group). The ERAS-CS package included pre-operative counselling, reduced pre-operative fast, warming of fluids intraoperatively, use of Dexamethasone and Ondansetron (to prevent post-operative nausea and vomiting) and early oral feeding as well as early mobilisation. Satisfaction 24 hours after surgery as well as complications were evaluated in both groups. Data analysis was with STATA. Results: We enrolled 42 women, 21 in each arm. Average age of participants was 31.9 years. A body temperature drop of 0.6 degree Celsius in the ERAS group versus 1.7 degree Celsius in N-ERAS group, p=0.001 was noted. Intraoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV) was significantly decreased in the ERAS group (p=0.038) as well as per-operative hunger and cold. ERAS patients felt significantly more capable of looking after their personal toileting and hygiene, and in control with a greater feeling of well-being than those in the N-ERAS group, 24 hours after surgery. Conclusion: The ERAS-CS program led to fewer per and post-operative complications, and faster recovery of patients.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol Decreases Length of Stay and Postoperative Narcotic Use in Microvascular Breast Reconstruction

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have demonstrated efficacy following microvascular breast reconstruction. This study assesses the impact of an ERAS protocol following microvascular breast reconstruction at a high-volume center. Methods: The ERAS protocol introduced preoperative counseling, multimodal analgesia, early diet resumption, and early mobilization to our microvascular breast reconstruction procedures. Data, including length of stay, body mass index, inpatient narcotic use, outpatient narcotic prescriptions, inpatient pain scores, and complications, were prospectively collected for all patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction between April 2019 and July 2021. Traditional pathway patients who underwent reconstruction immediately before ERAS implementation were retrospectively reviewed as controls. Results: The study included 200 patients, 99 in traditional versus 101 in ERAS. Groups were similar in body mass index, age (median age: traditional, 54.0 versus ERAS, 50.0) and bilateral reconstruction rates (59.6% versus 61.4%). ERAS patients had significantly shorter lengths of stay, with 96.0% being discharged by postoperative day (POD) 3, and 88.9% of the traditional cohort were discharged on POD 4 (P &lt; 0.0001). Inpatient milligram morphine equivalents (MMEs) were smaller by 54.3% in the ERAS cohort (median MME: 154.2 versus 70.4, P &lt; 0.0001). Additionally, ERAS patients were prescribed significantly fewer narcotics upon discharge (median MME: 337.5 versus 150.0, P &lt; 0.0001). ERAS had a lower pain average on POD 0–3; however, this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Implementing an ERAS protocol at a high-volume microvascular breast reconstruction center reduced length of stay and postoperative narcotic usage, without increasing pain or perioperative complications.

The Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol Implementation on Postoperative Pain Management in the Era of Opioid Crisis: The Post- Chemotherapy Open RPLND Experience.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been proven to optimize postoperative outcomes; however, misuse of opioid analgesics can still hinder postoperative recovery due to related side effects and potential complications. To determine if the implementation of ERAS protocol in post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) patients could help with reducing postoperative pain and opioid use. A case-control study of consecutive testicular cancer patients with indications for PCRLPND, who were offered Conventional Post-operative Management (CPM) or ERAS protocol. Outcomes of interest included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-assessed pain level at postoperative days 3, 7, and 30, and Morphine-Equivalent Doses (MEDs)/postoperative day. Intraoperative parameters and postoperative complications were recorded. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. In total, 100 opioid-naïve PC-RPLND patients were studied. CPM and ERAS groups (36 and 64 patients, respectively) had similar demographic and baseline clinical characteristics). ERAS group patients had significantly lower blood loss (p = 0.005), blood transfusion rate (p < 0.001), and duration of the procedure (p < 0.001). Post-operative complications were comparable between groups. Nausea and bowel disorders were numerically but not statistically more frequent in the CPM group. ERAS patients had shorter mean hospital stay (5.3 ± 1.4 vs. 7.4 ± 1.6 days, p < 0.001), lower daily MEDs (4.73 ± 2.63 vs. 7.04 ± 2.29, p < 0.001), and lower VAS scores on post-operative day 7 (3.89 ± 1.07 vs. 4.67 ± 1.17, p = 0.001). Post-operative pain was similar between groups on post-operative days 3 and 30. Systematic implementation of ERAS protocol after PC-RPLND improves pain management, optimizes patient recovery, and prevents over-prescription of opioid analgesics.

The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol for the surgical management of craniosynostosis: Lausanne experience.

Over the past decade, the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program has demonstrated its effectiveness and efficiency in improving postoperative care and enhancing recovery across various surgical fields. Preliminary results of ERAS protocol implementation in craniosynostosis surgery are presented. An ERAS protocol was developed and implemented for cranial pediatric neurosurgery, focusing on craniosynostosis repair. The study incorporated a pre-ERAS group consisting of a consecutive series of patients who underwent craniosynostosis repair surgery prior to the implementation of the ERAS protocol; the results were compared with a consecutive group of patients who had been prospectively collected since the introduction of the ERAS for craniosynostosis protocol. The safety, feasibility, and efficiency of the ERAS protocol in pediatric neurosurgery was evaluated, through the collection of clinical data from the pre-, intra-, and postoperative phase. Surgery-related complications were evaluated according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Costs of the stays were obtained using a microcosting approach. A total of 35 pre-ERAS patients and 10 ERAS patients were included. Scaphocephaly was the most common pathology in both groups. The overall compliance with the pre-, intra-, and postoperative criteria significantly increased-from 35.5%, 64.4%, and 54.7%, respectively, in each phase to 94%, 90%, and 84% (p < 0.001). The authors noticed a reduction in the average opioid dose used per patient in the ERAS group (p = 0.004), and they observed a trend toward a decreased mean length of stay from 5.2 days in the pre-ERAS group to 4.6 days in the ERAS group, without an increase of the rate of readmission within 30 days of surgery. The rate of complications decreased but this difference was not statistically significant. The hospital costs lowered significantly: from 21,958 Confederatio Helvetica Francs (CHF) in the pre-ERAS group to 18,936 CHF in the ERAS group (p = 0.02). The ERAS protocol represents a safe and cost-effective tool for the perioperative management of craniosynostosis. It showed its positive impact on the analgesia provided and on the reduction of in-hospital costs for these patients. ERAS protocols may thus be interesting options in the pediatric neurosurgical field.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Saudi Arabian Surgical Practice: A Comprehensive Analysis of Surgical Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Cost-Effectiveness.

Introduction Surgical procedures present substantial healthcare costs, patient discomfort, and potential adverse outcomes. In response, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have emerged as comprehensive, evidence-based preoperative care pathways designed to optimize preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative management. These protocols incorporate various interventions, such as preoperative education, nutritional optimization, minimally invasive techniques, multimodal pain management, early mobilization, and patient engagement. Despite their global success and growing popularity, the adoption and influence of ERAS protocols in Saudi Arabia have not been extensively explored. This study aims to assess the ERAS effects on surgical outcomes and evaluate its relationship with patientsatisfaction, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness and compliance in the Saudi context. Methods This cross-sectional study encompassed data collection from 1,452 patients who underwent surgical procedures such as bariatric surgery and cholecystectomy, employing systematic random sampling across multiple healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires, medical records, and cost-effectiveness analysis within the period spanning from January to August 2023. The relationship between ERAS protocol implementation, surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness was analyzed using statistical tests, including correlation, regression analysis, and chi-square tests. A statistical significance threshold was set at p < 0.05, and Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 28.0) (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) was used for data analysis. Results Among the 1,452 respondents, 1,152 (79.3%) reported the implementation of ERAS protocols during their surgical procedures. Those receiving ERAS protocols exhibited significantly lower rates of surgical complications, readmissions, and reduced dependency on pain medication (p < 0.001). Additionally, participants subjected to ERAS protocols reported significantly higher satisfaction levels based on the mean satisfaction scale score, with a p-value of less than 0.001. Conclusion The results highlight substantial improvements associated with the implementation of ERAS protocols, particularly in terms of reduced surgical site infections, shortened hospitalization periods, and decreased pain management-related complications. Moreover, ERAS protocol implementation demonstrated enhanced surgical outcomes, increased postoperative satisfaction, and overall improved recovery experiences. These findings underscore the potential benefits of integrating ERAS protocols into the surgical practices of Saudi Arabia. This research contributes to a better understanding of the advantages offered by ERAS protocols and their potential for enhancing healthcare delivery in the region.

Benefits of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway With Quadratus Lumborum Blocks for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study aimed to determine the effect of the implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol among patients receiving minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. This retrospective cohort study was performed in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 328 females who underwent minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries requiring at least one overnight stay at Keck HospitalofUniversity of Southern California (USC), California, USA, from 2016 to 2020 were included in this study. The institutional ERAS protocol was implemented in late 2018. A total of 186 patients from 2016 to 2018 prior to the implementation were compared to 142 patients from 2018 to 2020 after the implementation. Intraoperatively, the ERAS group received a multimodal analgesic regimen (including bilateral quadratus lumborum (QL) blocks) and postoperative care geared towarda satisfactory, safe, and expeditious discharge. The two groups were similar in demographics, except for the shorter surgical time noted in the ERAS group. The median opioid use was significantly less among the ERAS patients compared with the non-ERAS patients on postoperative day 1 (7.5 vs. 14.3 mg; p<0.001) and throughout the hospital stay (17.4 vs. 36.2 mg; p<0.001). The ERAS group also had a shorter median hospital length of stay compared to the non-ERAS group (p<0.01). Among patients with a malignant diagnosis, patients in the ERAS group had significantly less postoperative day 1 and total opioid use and a shorter hospital stay (p<0.01). Within the ERAS group, 20% of the patients did not end up receiving a QL block. Opioid use and length of stay were similar between patients who did and did not receive the QL block. The ERAS pathway was associated with a reduction in opioid use postoperatively and a shorter length of hospital stay after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. There was a more significant decrease in opioid use and hospital length of stay for patients with malignant diagnoses compared to patients with benign diagnoses. Further research can be done to fully delineate the effect of QL blocks in ERAS protocols.

180. ENHANCED RECOVERY PROTOCOL VERSUS CONVENTIONAL CARE IN ESOPHAGECTOMY PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOMA: ADVANTAGES ON THE PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES

Abstract Background The subjective metrics regarding quality of life are unclear in comparison of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol with conventional care in esophagectomy patients with esophageal carcinoma, while the objective metrics are controversial. This study was to investigate the advantages of ERAS over conventional care on the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) from patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and explore the key components of ERAS for benefit duration. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective study with prospective PROs data from esophagectomy patients with esophageal cancer between April 2019 and June 2021. The objective metrics included perioperative complications and postoperative length of stay (PLOS). PROs data were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 quality of life questionnaire and the QLQ-OES18 esophageal cancer module from pre-surgery to six months after surgery. Mixed-effects models were used to longitudinally compare the HRQoL scores between the two programs. Results 348 conventional care and 109 ERAS patients were analyzed. The ERAS group had less pneumonia, arrhythmia, and PLOS than the conventional group. The ERAS group outperformed the conventional group in six QLQ-C30 domains, especially physical functioning (p = 0.0115), role functioning (p = 0.0002), and fatigue (p = 0.0428). QLQ-OES18 revealed that the ERAS group had less dysphagia (p &amp;lt; 0.0001), trouble talking (p = 0.0006) and better eating (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) than the conventional group. The above advantages persisted three months after surgery. For cervical circular stapled anastomosis the initial items and duration of benefit were reduced in ERAS group than in conventional group. Conclusion The ERAS protocol has significant advantages over the conventional care in lowering postoperative symptom burden and improving HRQoL on PROs in esophagectomy patients with esophageal cancer, and the benefit persists up to three months after surgery. For the cervical anastomosis the optimal technique may be a key component of ERAS maintaining the items and duration of advantages on PROs.

Better early outcome with enhanced recovery total hip arthroplasty (ERAS-THA) versus conventional setup in randomized clinical trial (RCT)

IntroductionNumbers of total hip arthroplasty (THA) are steadily rising and patients expect faster mobility without pain postoperatively. The aim of enhanced recovery after Surgery (ERAS) programs in a multidisciplinary setup was to keep pace with the needs of quality and quantity of surgical THA-interventions and patients’ expectations.Methods194 patients undergoing THA procedures were investigated after single-blinded randomization to ERAS (98) or conventional setup group (96). Primary outcome variable was mobilization measured with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) in seconds. Secondary outcome variables were floor count and walking distance in meters as well as rest, mobilization and night pain on a numerous rating scale (NRS). All variables were recorded preoperatively and daily until the sixth postoperative day. To assess and compare clinical outcome and patient satisfaction, the PPP33-Score and PROMs were used.ResultsNo complications such as thromboembolic complications, fractures or revisions were recorded within the first week postoperatively in either study group. Compared to the conventional group, the ERAS group showed significantly better TUG (p < 0.050) and walking distance results after surgery up to the sixth, and floor count up to the third postoperative day. On the first and second postoperative day, ERAS patients showed superior results (p < 0.001) in all independent activity subitems. Regarding the evaluation of pain (NRS), PPP33 and PROMS, no significant difference was shown (p > 0.050).ConclusionThis prospective single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was able to demonstrate excellent outcome with comparable pain after ERAS THA versus a conventional setup. Therefore, ERAS could be used in daily clinical practice.

Faster Return to Daily Activities and Better Pain Control: A Prospective Study of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol in Breast Augmentation.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been proven to decrease the amount of opioid use and reduce postoperative pain for a variety of surgeries, including breast reconstruction. However, data on ERAS in breast augmentation is lacking. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of ERAS for breast augmentation. A standardized ERAS protocol was established with full consideration of all aspects of perioperative care. Patients undergoing implant-based breast augmentation were prospectively recruited between December 2020 and January 2023, and assigned to either the ERAS or non-ERAS group randomly. The primary outcome was the activity of daily living after surgery. The secondary was postoperative pain and other outcomes included time to freely elevation, vomiting frequency, the use of analgesics, and complications. A total of 122 patients were included, with 70 in the ERAS group and 52 in the non-ERAS group. Compared to non-ERAS patients, ERAS patients had a shorter time to freely elevation of upper limbs (2.3d vs. 5.5d, P<0.001). For ERAS patients, the pain scores were significantly lower on postoperative days 1 to 3, the activity of daily living index was significantly higher on postoperative days 1 to 3 and the opioids consumption was decreased (7.1mg vs. 46.2mg, P=0.018). No difference was observed in complication and hospital costs between the two groups. The ERAS protocol significantly reduced postoperative pain and the use of opioids and promoted a return to daily activities without increasing complications in breast augmentation. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for an Uncommon Complex Urological Procedure: The Complete Primary Repair of Bladder Exstrophy.

ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) protocols are designed to optimize perioperative care and expedite recovery. Historically, complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy has included postoperative recovery in the intensive care unit and extended length of stay. We hypothesized that instituting ERAS principles would benefit children undergoing complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy, decreasing length of stay. We describe implementation of a complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy-ERAS pathway at a single, freestanding children's hospital. A multidisciplinary team developed an ERAS pathway for complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy, which launched in June 2020 and included a new surgical approach that divided the lengthy procedure into 2 consecutive operative days. The complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy-ERAS pathway was continuously refined, and the final pathway went into effect in May 2021. Post-ERAS patient outcomes were compared with a pre-ERAS historical cohort (2013-2020). A total of 30 historical and 10 post-ERAS patients were included. All post-ERAS patients had immediate extubation (P = .04) and 90% received early feeding (P < .001). The median intensive care unit and overall length of stay decreased from 2.5 to 1 days (P = .005) and from 14.5 to 7.5 days (P < .001), respectively. After final pathway implementation, there was no intensive care unit use (n=4). Postoperatively, no ERAS patient required escalation of care, and there was no difference in emergency department visits or readmissions. Applying ERAS principles to complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy was associated with decreased variations in care, improved patient outcomes, and effective resource utilization. Although ERAS has typically been utilized for high-volume procedures, our study highlights that an enhanced recovery pathway is both feasible and adaptable to less common urological surgeries.

Implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for total abdominal hysterectomies in the division of gynecologic oncology: a network-wide quality improvement initiative.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to decrease length of stay and postoperative opioid usage in colorectal and bariatric surgeries performed at large academic centers. Hysterectomies are the second most common surgical procedure among women in the United States. Hysterectomies performed in an open fashion, or total abdominal hysterectomies (TAHs), account for a large portion of procedures performed by gynecologic oncologists secondary to current oncology guidelines and surgical complexity. Implementation of an ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology TAHs is one way in which patient outcomes may be improved. An ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology surgeries performed in a community hospital was instituted with the goal to optimize patient outcomes preoperatively. The primary outcome of interest was to reduce patient opioid usage. Secondary outcomes included compliance with the ERAS protocol, length of stay, and cost. Thirdly, this study aimed to demonstrate the unique challenges of implementing a large-scale protocol across a community network. An ERAS protocol was implemented in 2018, with multidisciplinary input from the Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, Anesthesia, Pharmacy, Nursing, Information Technology, and Quality Improvement to develop a comprehensive ERAS order set. This was implemented across a 12-site hospital system network that consisted of both urban and rural hospital settings. A retrospective review of patient charts was performed to assess measured outcomes. Parametric and nonparametric tests were utilized for statistical analysis with p<0.05 denoting statistical significance. If the p value was >0.05 and <0.09, this was considered a trend toward significant. A total of 124 patients underwent a TAH utilizing the ERAS protocol during 2018 and 2019. The control arm consisted of 59 patients who underwent a TAH prior to the ERAS protocol intervention, which was the standard of care in 2017. After 2 years of implementation of the ERAS protocol intervention, we found that 48 % of the ERAS patients had minimal opioid requirements after surgery (oral morphine equivalent [OME] range 0-40) with decreased postoperative opioid requirements in the ERAS group (p=0.03). Although not statistically significant, utilization of the ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology TAHs trended toward shorter hospital length of stay from 5.18 to 4.17days (p=0.07). The median total hospital costs per patient also showed a nonsignificant decrease in cost from $13,342.00 in the non-ERAS cohort and $13,703.00 in the ERAS cohort (p=0.8). A large-scale quality improvement (QI) initiative is feasible utilizing a multidisciplinary team to implement an ERAS protocol for TAHs in the division of Gynecologic Oncology with promising results. This large-scale QI result was comparable to studies that conducted quality-improvement ERAS initiatives at single academic institutions and should be considered within community networks.

Robotic approach together with an enhanced recovery programme improve the perioperative outcomes for complex hepatectomy.

Robotic surgery has more advantages than traditional surgical approaches to complex liver resection; however, the robotic approach is invariably associated with increased cost. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are beneficial in conventional surgeries. The present study investigated the effects of robotic surgery combined with an ERAS protocol on perioperative outcomes and hospitalization costs of patients undergoing complex hepatectomy. Clinical data from consecutive robotic and open liver resections (RLR and OLR, respectively) performed in our unit in the pre-ERAS (January 2019-June 2020) and ERAS (July 2020-December 2021) periods were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of ERAS and surgical approaches-alone or in combination-on LOS and costs. A total of 171 consecutive complex liver resections were analyzed. ERAS patients had a shorter median LOS and decreased total hospitalization cost, without a significant difference in the complication rate compared with the pre-ERAS cohort. RLR patients had a shorter median LOS and decreased major complications, but with increased total hospitalization cost, compared with OLR patients. Comparing the four combinations of perioperative management and surgical approaches, ERAS + RLR had the shortest LOS and the fewest major complications, whereas pre-ERAS + RLR had the highest hospitalization costs. Multivariate analysis found that the robotic approach was protective against prolonged LOS, whereas the ERAS pathway was protective against high costs. The ERAS + RLR approach optimized postoperative complex liver resection outcomes and hospitalization costs compared with other combinations. The robotic approach combined with ERAS synergistically optimized outcome and overall cost compared with other strategies, and may be the best combination for optimizing perioperative outcomes for complex RLR.

Utilization of individual components of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol improves post-operative outcomes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a blueprint for progressive adoption of ERAS

PurposeEnhanced recovery after surgery [ERAS] is an approach for standardization of perioperative care aimed at improving patient outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to determine if length of stay (LOS) differed by protocol type (ERAS vs. non-ERAS [N-ERAS]) in patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patient characteristics were collected and compared between groups. Differences in LOS were assessed using regression adjusting for age, sex, BMI, pre-surgical Cobb angle, levels fused and year of surgery.ResultsFifty nine ERAS patients were compared to 81 N-ERAS patients. Patients were comparable in their baseline characteristics. Median LOS was 3 days (IQR = 3–4) for the ERAS group, compared to 5 days (IQR = 4–5) for the N-ERAS group (p < 0.001). The ERAS group had a significantly lower adjusted rate of stay (RR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.62–0.92). The ERAS group had significantly lower average pain on post-operative days 0 (least-squares-mean [LSM] 2.66 vs. 4.41, p < 0.001), POD1 (LSM 3.12 vs. 4.48, p < 0.001) and POD5 (LSM 2.84 vs. 4.42, p = 0.035). The ERAS group had lower opioid consumption (p < 0.001). LOS was predicted by the number of protocol elements received; those receiving two (RR = 1.54 95% CI = 1.05–2.24), one (RR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.09–2.03) or none (RR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.21–2.13) had significantly longer rates of stay than those receiving all four.ConclusionAdoption of modified ERAS-based protocol for patients undergoing PSF for AIS led to significant reduction in LOS, average pain scores, and opioid consumption.

Associations Between Patient Characteristics and Whipple Procedure Outcomes Before and After Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol

PurposeThe Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol is a multimodal perioperative care bundle aimed to improve pancreatic surgery outcomes. This work evaluates whether a Whipple ERAS protocol can be safely implemented at a quaternary care center. We also aimed to assess if race and socioeconomic factors are associated with disparities in outcomes in patients undergoing a Whipple ERAS protocol. MethodsA retrospective review identified demographic and clinical data for 458 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs) at a single institution from October 2017 to May 2022. Patients were split into two cohorts: pre-ERAS (treated before implementation) and ERAS (treated after). Outcomes included length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission and mortality rates, and major complications. ResultsThere were 213 pre-ERAS PD patients, and 245 were managed with an ERAS protocol. More ERAS patients had a BMI > 30 (15.5% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.01) and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (15.5% vs. 4.2%; p < 0.001). ERAS patients had a higher rate of major complications (57.6% vs. 37.6%; p < 0.001). Medicaid patients did not have more complications or longer LOS compared to non-Medicaid patients. On univariate analysis, race/ethnicity or gender was not significantly associated with a higher rate of major complications or prolonged LOS. ConclusionA Whipple ERAS protocol did not significantly change LOS, readmissions, or 30-day mortality. Rate of overall complications did not significantly change after implementation, but rate of major complications increased. These outcomes were not significantly impacted by race/ethnicity, gender, tumor staging, or insurance status.