Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program Research Articles

From morbidity reduction to cost-effectiveness: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) society recommendations in minimal invasive liver surgery

PurposeMinimal-invasive liver surgery (MILS) reduces surgical trauma and is associated with fewer postoperative complications. To amplify these benefits, perioperative multimodal concepts like Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS), can play a crucial role. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness for MILS in an ERAS program, considering the necessary additional workforce and associated expenses.MethodsA prospective observational study comparing surgical approach in patients within an ERAS program compared to standard care from 2018—2022 at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Cost data were provided by the medical controlling office. ERAS items were applied according to the ERAS society recommendations.Results537 patients underwent liver surgery (46% laparoscopic, 26% robotic assisted, 28% open surgery) and 487 were managed by the ERAS protocol. Implementation of ERAS reduced overall postoperative complications in the MILS group (18% vs. 32%, p = 0.048). Complications greater than Clavien-Dindo grade II incurred the highest costs (€ 31,093) compared to minor (€ 17,510) and no complications (€13,893; p < 0.001). In the event of major complications, profit margins were reduced by a median of € 6,640.ConclusionsEmbracing the ERAS society recommendations in liver surgery leads to a significant reduction of complications. This outcome justifies the higher cost associated with a well-structured ERAS protocol, as it effectively offsets the expenses of complications.

Enhanced recovery after surgery program focusing on chest tube management improves surgical recovery after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

ObjectiveChest drainage is a standard procedure in thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer. However, chest tube placement may deteriorate the ventilation capacity and increase difficulty of postoperative management of patients. The study investigated on the effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program focusing on chest tube management on surgical recovery of lung cancer patients.MethodsThe study population consisted of 60 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) after implementation of ERAS program and another group of 60 patients undergoing VATS before implementation of ERAS program.ResultsThe mean time of first food intake was 12.9 h required for the ERAS group, which was significantly shorter than 18.4 h required for the control group (p < 0.0001). The mean time of out-of-bed activity was 14.2 h taken for the ERAS group, which was notably shorter than 22.8 h taken for the control group (p < 0.0001). The duration of chest tube placement was 68.6 h in the ERAS group, which was remarkably shorter than 92.8 h in the control group (p < 0.0001). The rate overall postoperative complications were notably lower in the ERAS group than in the control group (p = 0.018). The visual analogue score (VAS) scores on the second postoperative day exhibited significant differences between the ERAS group and the control group (p = 0.017). The patients in the ERAS group had a shorter hospitalization stay than those in the control group (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThe study suggests the ERAS program focusing on chest tube management could improve surgical recovery, remove patient chest tube earlier, and relieve patient pain after VATS.

Initial Results of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program in Patients Undergoing Lobectomy in the Treatment of Lung Cancer: An Experience From the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City.

Lobectomy is a standard surgical method in the treatment of early stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program aims to reduce the postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS) in major surgeries. This study evaluated the impact of the ERAS program on PLOS and identified related factors in patients undergoing lobectomy for NSCLC. This prospective observational study was conducted at the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam, from February2022 to December 2023. We included patients diagnosed with NSCLC scheduled for lobectomy. The ERAS protocol was applied according to guidelines from the ERAS Society and the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. We collected data on patient demographics, surgical details, adherence to the ERAS protocol, and postoperative outcomes, including the PLOS. Among the 98 patients enrolled, the median PLOS after ERAS intervention was 4.1 days (interquartile range: 3.7 to 5.2 days). Adherence to ERAS protocols significantly correlated with reduced PLOS (p<0.001). Notably, smoking status was identified as a related factor of PLOS (p=0.002). Complications (p<0.001), surgical method (p=0.007), operation time (p<0.001), duration of postanesthesia care unit (p=0.006), duration of thoracic drainage (p<0.001), and urinary catheter retention time (p=0.023) were also associated with PLOS variations. Implementing the ERAS program in patients undergoing lobectomy for NSCLC at our center reduced PLOS and highlighted the importance of protocol adherence for optimizing surgical outcomes. These findings supported the broader adoption of ERAS protocols in thoracic surgery to enhance patient recovery. Future research should focus on multi-center studies to generalize these results and further dissect the impact of individual ERAS components.

163 Assessing the Economic Benefit of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols in Adult Cervical Deformity Patients: Is the Initial Additive Cost of Protocols Offset by Clinical Gains

INTRODUCTION: The economic benefit of ERAS protocols, nor the heterogeneous components that make up such protocols, has not been established. METHODS: CD patients =18 yrs with pre-(BL) and up to 2-year (2Y) postop data were stratified by enrollment in Standard-of-Care ERAS beginning in 2020. Differences in pre, peri-, and post-operative factors were assessed via means comparison analysis. Costs were calculated using PearlDiver database estimates from Medicare pay-scales. QALY was calculated using NDI mapped to SF6D using validated methodology with 3% discount rate to account for residual decline to life expectancy. RESULTS: 270 patients were included (58.11 ± 11.97 years, 48% female). 54 (20.0%) received ERAS protocol recovery treatment post-operatively. Peri-operatively, ERAS+ patients also reported lower mean LOS overall (4.33 vs 5.84, p = .393), and were more likely to be discharged directly to home (χ2(1) = 4.974, p = .028). Per cost analysis, ERAS+ patients reported a lower mean total 2Y cost of 33,829 USD compared to ERAS- patients at 36,951 (p &lt; .001). Furthermore, ERAS+ patients trended towards greater life-expectancy 2Y QALYs gained versus ERAS- patients (.423 vs .368, p = .051), and demonstrated lower costs at reoperation by 2Y (7050 USD vs 8110, p &lt; .001). Controlling for age, surgical invasiveness, and deformity per BL TS-CL, ERAS+ patients below 70 years old were more likely to achieve a cost-effective outcome by 2Y compared to their ERAS- counterparts (OR: 1.011 [1.001 – 1.999, p = .048]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols experience lower operative times, length of stay, and rates of peri-and and post-operative complications. Subsequently, this study demonstrates that ERAS programs in ACD surgery demonstrate improved cost-effectiveness and reduced total cost by 2Y post-operatively. Due to the potential economic benefit of ERAS for patients, physicians and instutions should consider incorporation of ERAS into practice for eligible patients.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for deep infiltrating endometriosis surgery: Experience of a French center

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to evaluate the implementation of an ERAS programme for deep pelvic endometriosis (DPE) surgery in terms of length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications (POC) and rehospitalisation rate. MethodsThis was a comparative retrospective monocentric study in the Gynaecologic Department of the La Conception Hospital in Marseille, France. We compared a ‘conventional’ group, with classic perioperative management corresponding to patients undergoing DPE surgery between April 8, 2014 and January 23, 2018, and an ‘ERAS’ group after setting up the ERAS protocol from February 6, 2018 to March 6, 2020. ResultsA total of 101 patients with DPE surgery were included, with 39 in the conventional group and 53 in the ERAS group. The LOS decreased by 1.91 days (p < 0.001). During the 45 postoperative days, no difference was found in rehospitalised rate (p = 1). The POC rate was 15/39 (38.5 %) in the conventional group and 12/53 (22.6 %) in the ERAS group (p = 0.1). ConclusionThe implementation of an ERAS programme for DPE surgery is an effective strategy because it can reduce the LOS without increasing the POC rate.

Application of enhanced recovery after surgery during the perioperative period in children with Meckel's diverticulum-a single-center prospective clinical trial.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been widely used in adult surgery. However, few studies have reported the efficacy of ERAS in paediatric patients with Meckel's diverticulum (MD), the aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERAS in treating MD. A prospective randomised controlled study of children with MD admitted to our hospital from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023 were conducted, we developed and implemented an ERAS program for this patients. All cases were strictly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these patients, they were randomly assigned to the ERAS group or the traditional (TRAD) group with random number table row randomization. The main observational indicators were operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage, FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery, length of postoperative stay (LOPS), time to first defecation, time to first eating after surgery, time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion, total treatment cost, incidence of postoperative complications, 30-day readmission rate and parental satisfaction rate. A total of 50 patients underwent Meckel's diverticulectomy during this period, 7 patients were excluded, 23 patients were assigned to the ERAS group and 20 patients were assigned to the TRAD group. There were no significant differences in demographic data and operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage. The FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery were significantly lower in the ERAS group. The LOPS was 6.17 ± 0.89 days in the ERAS group and 8.30 ± 1.26 days in the TRAD group, resulting in a significantly shorter LOPS in ERAS group. ERAS could also reduce the first postoperative defecation time, the time to first eating after surgery and the time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion. The treatment cost was decreased in the ERAS group. The rate of complications and 30-day readmission were not significantly different between the two groups. In this single-center study, the ERAS protocol for patients with MD requiring surgery was safe and effective.

Early chest tube removal on the 1st postoperative day protocol of an enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery programme is safe.

The aim of this study was to assess the safety of early chest tube removal (CTR) protocol on the 1st postoperative day (POD1) of our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programme by comparing the risk of postoperative pneumothorax, pleural and pericardial effusion requiring intervention and hospital mortality. All consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary revascularization and/or valve surgery between 2015 and 2021 were assessed in terms of their perioperative management pathways: conventional standard of care (control group) versus standardized systematic perioperative ERAS programme including an early CTR on POD1 (ERAS group). A propensity score matching was applied. The primary end-point was a composite of postoperative pneumothorax, pleural and pericardial effusion requiring intervention and hospital mortality. A total of 3153 patients were included. Propensity score analysis resulted in 2 groups well-matched pairs of 1026 patients. CTR on POD1 was significantly increased from 29.5% in the control group to 70.3% in the ERAS group (P < 0.001). The incidence of the primary end-point was 6.4% in the control group and 6.9% in the ERAS group (P = 0.658). Patients in the ERAS group, as compared with control group, had significant lower incidence of bronchopneumonia (9.0% vs 13.5%; P = 0.001) and higher incidence of mechanical ventilation ≤6 h (84.6% vs 65.2%; P < 0.001), length of intensive care unit ≤1 day (61.2% vs 50.8%; P < 0.001) and hospital ≤6 days (67.3% vs.43.2%; P < 0.001). CTR on POD1 protocol can be safely incorporated into a standardized systematic ERAS programme, enabling early mobilization, and contributing to the improvement of postoperative outcomes. Ethics committee of the French Society of Thoracic and Cardio-Vascular Surgery (CERC-SFCTCV-2022-09-13_23140).

Total laparoscopic partial hepatectomy versus open partial hepatectomy for primary left-sided hepatolithiasis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe advantages of laparoscopic left-sided hepatectomy (LLH) for treating hepatolithiasis in terms of the time to postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS), morbidity, long-term abdominal wall hernias, hospital costs, residual stone rate, and recurrence of calculus have not been confirmed by a randomized controlled trial. The aim of this trial is to compare the safety and effectiveness of LLH with open left-sided hepatectomy (OLH) for the treatment of hepatolithiasis.MethodsPatients with hepatolithiasis eligible for left-sided hepatectomy will be recruited. The experimental design will produce two randomized arms (laparoscopic and open hepatectomy) at a 1:1 ratio and a prospective registry. All patients will undergo surgery in the setting of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme. The prospective registry will be based on patients who cannot be randomized because of the explicit treatment preference of the patient or surgeon or because of ineligibility (not meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria) for randomization in this trial. The primary outcome is the LOS. The secondary outcomes are percentage readmission, morbidity, mortality, hospital costs, long-term incidence of incisional hernias, residual stone rate, and recurrence of calculus. It will be assumed that, in patients undergoing LLH, the length of hospital stay will be reduced by 1 day. A sample size of 86 patients in each randomization arm has been calculated as sufficient to detect a 1-day reduction in LOS [90% power and α = 0.05 (two-tailed)]. The trial is a randomized controlled trial that will provide evidence for the merits of laparoscopic surgery in patients undergoing liver resection within an ERAS programme.ConclusionsAlthough the outcomes of LLH have been proven to be comparable to those of OLH in retrospective studies, the use of LLH remains restricted, partly due to the lack of short- and long-term informative RCTs pertaining to patients with hepatolithiasis in ERAS programmes. To evaluate the surgical and long-term outcomes of LLH, we will perform a prospective RCT to compare LLH with OLH for hepatolithiasis within an ERAS programme.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03958825. Registered on 21 May 2019.

Readmission after enhanced recovery video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery wedge resection

BackgroundDespite the implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs, surgical stress continues to influence postoperative rehabilitation, including the period after discharge. However, there is a lack of data available beyond the point of discharge following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate incidence and risk factors for readmissions after ERAS VATS wedge resection.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on data from prospectively collected consecutive VATS wedge resections from June 2019 to June 2022. We evaluated main reasons related to wedge resection leading to 90-day readmission, early (occurring within 0–30 days postoperatively) and late readmission (occurring within 31–90 days postoperatively). To identify predictors for these readmissions, we utilized a logistic regression model for both univariable and multivariable analyses.ResultsA total of 850 patients (non-small cell lung cancer 21.5%, metastasis 44.7%, benign 31.9%, and other lung cancers 1.9%) were included for the final analysis. Median length of stay was 1 day (IQR 1–2). During the postoperative 90 days, 86 patients (10.1%) were readmitted mostly due to pneumonia and pneumothorax. Among the cohort, 66 patients (7.8%) had early readmissions primarily due to pneumothorax and pneumonia, while 27 patients (3.2%) experienced late readmissions mainly due to pneumonia, with 7 (0.8%) patients experiencing both early and late readmissions. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that male gender, pulmonary complications, and neurological complications were associated with readmission.ConclusionsReadmission after VATS wedge resection remains significant despite an optimal ERAS program, with pneumonia and pneumothorax as the dominant reasons. Early readmission was primarily associated with pneumothorax and pneumonia, while late readmission correlated mainly with pneumonia.

Ketamine intolerance in patients on enhanced recovery after surgery protocols undergoing colorectal operations

BackgroundKetamine is used in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols because of its beneficial antihyperalgesic and antitolerance effects. However, adverse effects such as hallucinations, sedation, and diplopia could limit ketamine’s utility. The main objective of this study was to identify rates of ketamine side effects in postoperative patients after colorectal surgery and, secondarily, to compare short-term outcomes between patients receiving ketamine analgesia and controls. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational cohort study. Subjects were adults who underwent ERAS protocol-guided colorectal surgery at a large, integrated health system. Patients were grouped into ketamine-receiving and preketamine cohorts. Patients receiving ketamine were divided into tolerant and intolerant groups. Propensity score-adjusted models tested multivariate associations of ketamine tolerance/intolerance vs control group. ResultsA total of 732 patients underwent colorectal surgery within the ERAS program before ketamine’s introduction (control). After ketamine’s introduction, 467 patients received the medication. Intolerance was seen in 29% of ketamine recipients, and the most common side effect was diplopia. Demographics and surgical variables did not differ between cohorts. Multivariate models revealed no significant differences in hospital stays. Pain scores in the first 24 hours after surgery were slightly higher in patients receiving ketamine. Opiate consumption after surgery was lower for both ketamine tolerant and ketamine intolerant cohorts than for controls. ConclusionRates of ketamine intolerance are high, which can limit its use and potential effectiveness. Ketamine analgesia significantly reduced opiate consumption without increasing hospital stays after colorectal surgery, regardless of whether it was tolerated.

The efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) Program in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Although ERAS Program had some advantages in laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG), its efficacy and safety remained unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of the ERAS group and the traditional care (TC) group in LDG. Methods Multiple databases were retrieved from 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2023. The risk ratio (RR), standardized mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the results. Results Our meta-analysis contained 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies, which comprised 1468 patients. Regarding efficacy, the ERAS group had significantly shorter postoperative time to first flatus (SMD = −1.29 [95% CI: −1.68, −0.90]), shorter time to first defecation (SMD = −1.26 [95% CI: −1.90, −0.61]), shorter hospital stays (SMD = −0.99 [95% CI: −1.34, −0.63]), and lower hospitalization costs (SMD = −1.17 [95% CI: −1.86, −0.48]) compared to the TC group. Furthermore, in the ERAS group, C-reactive protein levels were lower on postoperative days 1, 3 or 4, and 7; albumin levels were higher on postoperative days 3 or 4 and 7; and interleukin-6 levels were lower on postoperative days 1 and 3. Regarding safety, the overall postoperative complication rate was lower in the ERAS group (RR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.60, 0.97]), but there was no significant difference in the individual postoperative complication rate. Other indicators were also not statistically significant. Conclusion The combination of ERAS Program with laparoscopy surgery was safe and effective for the perioperative management of patients with distal gastric cancer.

Postoperative fluid therapy in enhanced recovery after surgery for pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Optimal intravenous fluid management during the perioperative period for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) within the framework of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is unclear. Studies have indicated that excessive total body salt and water can contribute to the development of oedema, leading to increased morbidity and extended hospital stays. This study aimed to assess the effects of an intravenous therapy regimen during postoperative day (POD) 0 to 2 in PD patients within ERAS. A retrospective interventional cohort study was conducted, and it involved all PD patients before and after implementation of ERAS (2009-2017). In the ERAS group, a targeted maintenance fluid regimen of 20 mL/kg/day with a sodium requirement of 0.5 mmoL/kg/day was administered. Outcome measures included the mmol of sodium and chloride administered, length of stay, and morbidity (postoperative pancreatic fistula, POPF; acute kidney injury, AKI; ileus). The study included 169 patients, with a mean age of 64 ± 11.3 years. Following implementation of the intravenous fluid therapy protocol, there was a significant reduction in chloride and sodium loading. However, in the multivariable analysis, chloride administered (mmoL/kg) did not independently influence the length of stay; or rates of POPF, ileus, or AKI (p > 0.05). The findings suggested that a postoperative intravenous fluid therapy regimen did not significantly impact morbidity. Notably, there was a trend towards reduced length of stay within an increasingly comorbid patient cohort. This targeted fluid regimen appears to be safe for PD patients within the ERAS program. Further prospective research is needed to explore this area.

A meta-analysis of the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways in anterior cervical spine surgery for degenerative cervical spine diseases.

To systematically evaluate the perioperative effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol on anterior cervical spine surgery by means of meta-analysis. According to the PRISMA guidelines, the article's search on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data resource system, VIP, PubMed database and Cochrane library was conducted to identify clinical studies investigating the effects of ERAS protocols on anterior cervical spine surgery. A quantitative meta-analysis was performed for the clinical outcomes extracted from the studies that met inclusion criteria. Of the 21 studies identified from the article search, 10 studies met inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed shorter length of stay (LOS) (MD = -2.16, 95% CI (-2.57, -1.75), P < 0.00001) and higher patient satisfaction for the ERAS protocols (OR = 3.13, 95% CI (1.97, 4.98), P < 0.00001). Furthermore, ERAS programs led to significant decreases in cost (MD = -0.81, 95% CI (-1.08, -0.53), P < 0.00001) and complication rates (OR = 0.15, 95% CI (0.08, 0.27), P < 0.00001), but no difference in 90-day readmission (OR = 0.63, 95% CI (0.30, 1.35), P = 0.24). The data of this study suggest that the implementation of ERAS protocol decreases LOS, cost and complications rates and improve satisfaction for the patients undergoing anterior cervical spine surgery. To support the practice use of ERAS in anterior cervical spine surgery further, controlled trials will be indispensable.

Reduced length of intensive care unit stay and early mechanical ventilator weaning with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in free fibula flap surgery

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program on postoperative recovery of patients who underwent free fibula flap surgery for mandibular reconstruction. This retrospective study included 188 patients who underwent free fibula flap surgery for complex mandibular and soft tissue defects between January 2011 and December 2022. We divided them into two groups: the ERAS group, consisting of 36 patients who were treated according to the ERAS program introduced from 2021 to 2022. Propensity score matching was used for the non-ERAS group, which comprised 36 cases selected from 152 patients between 2011 and 2020, based on age, sex, and smoking history. After propensity score matching, the ERAS and non-ERAS groups included 36 patients each. The primary outcome was the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay; the secondary outcomes were flap complications, unplanned reoperation, 30-day readmission, postoperative ventilator use length, surgical site infections, incidence of delirium within ICU, lower-limb comorbidities, and morbidity parameters. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics of the patients. However, the ERAS group showed the lower length of intensive care unit stay (ERAS vs non-ERAS: 8.66 ± 3.90 days vs. 11.64 ± 5.42 days, P = 0.003) and post-operative ventilator use days (ERAS vs non-ERAS: 1.08 ± 0.28 days vs. 2.03 ± 1.05 days, P < 0.001). Other secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, patients in the ERAS group had lower postoperative morbidity parameters, such as postoperative nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infections, and pulmonary complications (P = 0.042). The ERAS program could be beneficial and safe for patients undergoing free fibula flap surgery for mandibular reconstruction, thereby improving their recovery and not increasing flap complications and 30-day readmission.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) in Postoperative Lung Cancer Patients: A Novel Perioperative Strategy for Preventing Venous Thromboembolism and Improving Quality of Life.

This study aimed to assess the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) intervention in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) among postoperative lung cancer patients. Conducted from January 2022 to January 2023, the research involved 125 lung cancer patients randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 60) receiving routine care, or an ERAS group (n = 65) which received both routine care and ERAS interventions. The ERAS program comprised a comprehensive series of interventions meticulously implemented throughout the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Thrombotic risk assessment using the Caprini Risk Assessment Model (RAM) was conducted preoperatively and on postoperative day 5 (POD 5), with plasma D-dimer levels measured preoperatively, on POD 1, POD 3, and POD 5. Quality of life and patient satisfaction were assessed at discharge using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer Module 13 (QLQ-LC13) and The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS), respectively. The ERAS group demonstrated significantly lower Caprini RAM scores on POD 5 compared to the control group, with lower D-dimer levels on POD 3 and POD 5. The incidence of VTE was lower in the ERAS group (1.54%) compared to the control group (11.67%) during hospitalization. At discharge, the ERAS group showed improved quality of life, with higher satisfaction scores for nursing care and their hospital stay. ERAS nursing interventions effectively mitigate thrombotic risk, improve D-dimer levels, enhance postoperative quality of life, and elevate patient satisfaction among individuals undergoing lung cancer surgery.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Spine Pathways and the Role of Perioperative Checklists.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) proposes a multimodal, evidence-based approach to perioperative care. ERAS pathways have been shown to help reduce complications, hospital length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rates, pain scores, and ultimately surgical costs, while improving patient satisfaction scores and outcomes in multiple surgical subspecialties [1-6]. Numerous specialties have implemented ERAS programs across the globe, providing a foundation for spine surgeons to begin the process themselves. Over the last few years, a significant number of papers have been addressing ERAS pathways for spinal surgery [7-19]. The majority have addressed the lumbar spine [9, 20-26]. The number of cervical ERAS pathways has been limited [27-29]. Many spine programs have begun the implementation of ERAS pathways, incorporating principles and interventions to various spine surgical procedures. Although differences in implementation across programs exist, there are a few common elements that promote a successful enhanced recovery approach [11, 16, 23, 25, 30-33]. All spinal ERAS pathways have three major elements, which are preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative phases. Within these phases some common elements include preoperative and intraoperative surgical checklists. Intraoperative checklist in addition to the "surgical time out" has been integrated into the workflow of most hospitals doing surgeries and have become a standard of care. The surgical checklist is designed to help reduce surgical errors and prevent wrong site/patient surgeries. Several surgical checklists have been developed throughout the years. Despite these safety protocols wrong site/level and other surgical errors continue to occur. Many cases of wrong level spine surgery (WLSS) still occur even when intraoperative imaging is performed [34, 35]. One survey reported that about 50% of spine surgeons have performed at least one WLSS during their career [36, 37]. Another survey reported that 36% of spine surgeons had performed at least one WLSS that was not recognized intraoperatively [38]. On a similar account, about 30% of spine surgery fellows have experienced wrong-site surgery [39]. From raw incidence rates, WLSS may seem rare, but these surveys show that the experience of WLSS is rather common among spine surgeons. WLSS is not yet a "never event." This may be due to poor quality of the intraoperative images, hindering subsequent level identification [34, 35, 38, 40]. Errors in interpretation of the imaging may also occur, including inconsistency in numbering vertebrae, inconsistency in landmark usage for level counting, and problems with numbering vertebrae due to lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) and other anatomical variants [34, 38, 41-43]. This chapter will describe a framework for the development and implementation of ERAS pathway for patients undergoing spine surgery. In addition, we will propose preoperative imaging guidelines and a comprehensive spine surgical checklist to incorporate into the perioperative phase to help reduce further surgical errors and WLSS.

Implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery at a General hospital in Zambia

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), with its aim of reducing operative stress and accelerating rehabilitation, became a standard perioperative care in multiple surgical specialties in developed world. However, little is known about the implementation of the fast-track pathways in a low-resource environment. The objective of the study was to describe our experience and share lessons obtained in using ERAS protocol in general surgery patients.&#x0D; Methods: In this descriptive study, all consecutive patients with no age restrictions undergoing elective and urgent abdominal surgery were assessed for inclusion in ERAS program. A retrospective analysis encompasses 98 patients aged two weeks to 87 years with male to female ratio of 2.3:1. Outcomes were functional recovery, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay.&#x0D; Results: All elements of ERAS protocol including minimal incision length laparotomy and accelerated postoperative care were used; however, certain components were modified depending on the availability of the resources and patient’s condition. Postoperative period complicated in 17.4% of cases, seven patients (7.4%) died after urgent operations, and no mortality was recorded after elective procedures. Median length of stay was 4.0 days. Local and systemic septic complications, paralytic ileus and performing of the stoma reversal procedure during the same hospital stay were reasons for delayed discharge.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study indicates that employment of ERAS program for general surgery population at a second level hospital is feasible and safe. Further larger-scale studies are needed.

The Influence of Pre-operative Pain and Anxiety on Acute Postoperative Pain in Cardiac Surgery Patients Undergoing Enhanced Recovery after Surgery.

Perioperative multimodal analgesia is an important step in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) care. Many factors, such as preoperative chronic pain and anxiety, may provide information about the expected postoperative pain. In this study, we evaluated preoperative pain and anxiety and investigate their effects on acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. After ethics committee approval, 67 consenting patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery under the ERAS program were included in our prospective observational study. Pre- and postoperative pain scores were obtained using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at rest and during movement. Preoperative anxiety was assessed on a 0-10 scale, and data were recorded. The relationships between pre-operative pain/anxiety and postoperative pain were evaluated using correlation analysis. In preoperative pain assessment, the percentage of patients with a pain score above 4 with NRS was 1.5%, regardless of whether they were at rest or mobilize. In postoperative pain assessment, there were 20.9% and 34.3% patients with NRS >4 at rest and mobilization, respectively. 7.5% of patients had preoperative anxiety of grade 5 or higher. While preoperative pain was not correlated with postoperative pain, preoperative anxiety had a moderate positive correlation with postoperative pain (r=0.382, P=0.003). The prevalence of preoperative pain in patients who underwent cardiac surgery is quite low and is not associated with postoperative pain. There is also a significant relationship between the severity of preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain.

Implementation and achievements of enhanced recovery after surgery program in perioperative management of gastric cancer patients†

Abstract Objective The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program is less implemented in gastric cancer patients. The purpose of this survey is to investigate the implementation status of ERAS in perioperative period in gastric cancer. Methods This clinical observational study enrolled 329 patients between January 2020 and August 2020 in a single gastric cancer center. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: basic information, preoperative status, intraoperative status, and postoperative status of ERAS implementation in gastric cancer surgery. Results In the preoperative period, patients’ education and counseling (100%) were well adopted. Smoking cessation (34.6%), drinking cessation (36.9%), avoidance of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (24.3%), respiratory function training (11.2%), and administration of carbohydrate-rich drink before surgery (0.6%) were relatively not well adopted. During the operation, maintenance of intraoperative normothermia and fluid management (100%), as well as epidural analgesia (81.5%), were well adopted. Thromboprophylaxis was performed in 133 (40.4%) patients. In the postoperative period, early active mobilization was implemented about 9.5 h, and early ambulation was implemented about 39.5 h, after surgery. A total of 140 (42.5%) patients received prolonged prophylactic antibiotics; 268 (81.5%) patients were provided diet upon gas passage; and 320 (97.3%) patients received intravenous fluid administration more than 5 d after surgery. The practice rate of early removal of urinary catheter (0%) and nasogastric tube (15.5%) was relatively low. A total of 11 (3.3%) patients experienced postoperative complication, and 1 (0.3%) patient received unplanned reoperation. The average costs were ¥59,500, and the average hospital stay was 12 (5, 36) d. Conclusions Standard perioperative management of ERAS program in gastric cancer surgery in China still requires improvement.

Thoracic day surgery versus thoracic inpatient surgery for treatment of patients with lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe successful implementation of the Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept in thoracic surgery has made it possible to complete the surgery in the day surgery unit. However, it is still unclear whether day surgery for lung cancer patients can achieve the same or even better results.MethodsA systematic literature search was completed in common databases for studies published before May 2022 and the data analyzed using the Review Manager 5.3 software.ResultsWe ultimately included 7 retrospective articles that met our criteria for the study. The results of age, smoking status, comorbidity and pulmonary function tests in day surgery group were better than in inpatient surgery group. Minimally invasive surgical method with segmentectomy was more used in day surgery group than in normal surgery group. The 30-day mortality was also lower in Day surgery group and it displayed that early discharged patients had fewer overall complications than the inpatient surgery group.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that younger patients, patients receiving segmental resections by VATS, and those with better pulmonary function tests or without comorbidity can be discharged early with low rates of complications and 30-day mortality, especial with ERAS program.