Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Versus Conventional Postoperative Care in Colorectal Surgery

Background  

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs are associated with reduced hospital morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the introduction of ERAS care improved the adverse events in colorectal surgery. In a cohort study, mortality, morbidity, and length of stay were compared between ERAS patients and carefully matched historical controls.     

Two-day Hospital Stay After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery under an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Pathway

Background

The present study aims to examine the feasibility and safety of a two-day hospital stay after laparoscopic colorectal resection (LCR) under an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2010, 882 consecutive patients undergoing LCR were analyzed. Patients were grouped and analyzed according to whether their hospital stay was 2 days (group A) or longer (group B). Demographic, surgical, and postoperative data were compared. To identify independent predictive factors related to a short hospital stay, a multivariate analysis was also performed.

Results

Group A represented 10.3 % of this series (91 patients). There were no differences regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA, and previous abdominal surgeries between groups. Group A had a lower incidence of rectal cancer and anterior resections than group B (6.6 vs. 17.7 % [p = 0.006] and 14.3 vs. 23.4 % [p = 0.048]), respectively, and a lower mean operative time (170 min vs. 192 min; p = 0.002). Group A had a lower overall morbidity rate than group B (5.5 vs. 16.9 %; p = 0.004) and a lower incidence of surgery-related complications (5.5 vs. 14.9 %; p = 0.001). The overall conversion rate was 10 % (only one patient in group A required conversion), and the difference in conversion rate between groups was statistically significant (1.2 vs. 10.7 %; p = 0.003). Group A had a lower readmission rate (0 vs. 4.9 %; p = 0.089). Multivariate analysis showed that conversion, postoperative morbidity, and rectal prolapse were independently associated with the length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

A two-day hospital stay after LCR is safe and feasible under an ERAS pathway, without compromising the readmission or complication rate.     

Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Liver Surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations

Background

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal pathway developed to overcome the deleterious effect of perioperative stress after major surgery. In colorectal surgery, ERAS pathways reduced perioperative morbidity, hospital stay and costs. Similar concept should be applied for liver surgery. This study presents the specific ERAS Society recommendations for liver surgery based on the best available evidence and on expert consensus.

Methods

A systematic review was performed on ERAS for liver surgery by searching EMBASE and Medline. Five independent reviewers selected relevant articles. Quality of randomized trials was assessed according to the Jadad score and CONSORT statement. The level of evidence for each item was determined using the GRADE system. The Delphi method was used to validate the final recommendations.

Results

A total of 157 full texts were screened. Thirty-seven articles were included in the systematic review, and 16 of the 23 standard ERAS items were studied specifically for liver surgery. Consensus was reached among experts after 3 rounds. Prophylactic nasogastric intubation and prophylactic abdominal drainage should be omitted. The use of postoperative oral laxatives and minimally invasive surgery results in a quicker bowel recovery and shorter hospital stay. Goal-directed fluid therapy with maintenance of a low intraoperative central venous pressure induces faster recovery. Early oral intake and mobilization are recommended. There is no evidence to prefer epidural to other types of analgesia.

Conclusions

The current ERAS recommendations were elaborated based on the best available evidence and endorsed by the Delphi method. Nevertheless, prospective studies need to confirm the clinical use of the suggested protocol.

     

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Bariatric Surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations

Background

During the last two decades, an increasing number of bariatric surgical procedures have been performed worldwide. There is no consensus regarding optimal perioperative care in bariatric surgery. This review aims to present such a consensus and to provide graded recommendations for elements in an evidence-based “enhanced” perioperative protocol.

Methods

The English-language literature between January 1966 and January 2015 was searched, with particular attention paid to meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials and large prospective cohort studies. Selected studies were examined, reviewed and graded. After critical appraisal of these studies, the group of authors reached a consensus recommendation.

Results

Although for some elements, recommendations are extrapolated from non-bariatric settings (mainly colorectal), most recommendations are based on good-quality trials or meta-analyses of good-quality trials.

Conclusions

A comprehensive evidence-based consensus was reached and is presented in this review by the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) Society. The guidelines were endorsed by the International Association for Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition (IASMEN) and based on the evidence available in the literature for each of the elements of the multimodal perioperative care pathway for patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

     

Single-shot Intercostal Nerve Block as an Adjunct to Post-operative Pain Control for Upper Abdominal Surgery in the Obese Patient

One hundred and ninety-two obese patients presented for upper abdominal surgery, of which 110 received general anaesthesia with opioid analgesia and 82 patients received general anaesthesia with opioid analgesia plus a single-shot intercostal nerve block of 0.5% bupivacaine in 1:200,000 adrenaline. A significant increase in the time to first post-operative opioid dose and a significant reduction in the number of doses over the first 12 and 24 h periods were noted in the patients receiving intercostal nerve block.     

Significant reduction of postoperative pain and opioid analgesics requirement with an Enhanced Recovery After Thoracic Surgery protocol

ObjectiveTo evaluate differences in postoperative pain control and opioids requirement in thoracic surgical patients following implementation of an Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery protocol with a comprehensive postoperative pain management strategy.Material and MethodsA retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing pulmonary resections by robotic thoracoscopy or thoracotomy from January 1, 2017, to January 31, 2019, was conducted. Multimodal pain management strategy (opioid-sparing analgesics, infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine to intercostal spaces and surgical sites, and elimination of thoracic epidural analgesia use in thoracotomy patients) was implemented as part of Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery on February 1, 2018. Outcome metrics including patient-reported pain levels, in-hospital and postdischarge opioids use, postoperative complications, and length of stay were compared before and after protocol implementation.ResultsIn total, 310 robotic thoracoscopy and 62 thoracotomy patients met the inclusion criteria. This pain management strategy was associated with significant reduction of postoperative pain in both groups with an overall reduction of postoperative opioids requirement. Median in-hospital opioids use (morphine milligram equivalent per day) was reduced from 30 to 18.36 (P = .009) for the robotic thoracoscopy group and slightly increased from 15.48 to 21.0 (P = .27) in the thoracotomy group. More importantly, median postdischarge opioids prescribed (total morphine milligram equivalent) was significantly reduced from 480.0 to 150.0 (P < .001) and 887.5 to 150.0 (P < .001) for the thoracoscopy and thoracotomy groups, respectively. Similar short-term perioperative outcomes were observed in both groups before and following protocol implementation.ConclusionsImplementation of Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery allows safe elimination of epidural use, better pain control, and less postoperative opioids use, especially a drastic reduction of postdischarge opioid need, without adversely affecting outcomes.     

Meta-analysis of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols in Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Objectives

To evaluate enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in emergency abdominal surgery.

Methods

The electronic data sources were explored to capture all studies that evaluated the impact of ERAS protocols in patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery. The quality of randomised and non-randomised studies was evaluated by the Cochrane tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale, respectively. Random or fixed effects modelling were utilised as indicated.

Results

Six comparative studies, enrolling 1334 patients, were eligible. ERAS protocols resulted in shorter post-operative time to first flatus (mean difference: −1.40, P < 0.00001), time to first defecation (mean difference: −1.21, P = 0.02), time to first oral liquid diet (mean difference: −2.30, P < 0.00001), time to first oral solid diet (mean difference: −2.40, P < 0.00001) and length of hospital stay (mean difference: −3.09, −2.80, P < 0.00001). ERAS protocols also resulted in lower risks of total complications (odds ratio: 0.50, P < 0.00001), major complications (odds ratio: 0.60, P = 0.0008), pulmonary complications (odds ratio: 0.38, P = 0.0003), paralytic ileus (odds ratio: 0.53, 0.88, P = 0.01) and surgical site infection (odds ratio: 0.39, P = 0.0001). Both ERAS and non-ERAS protocols resulted in similar risk of 30-day mortality (risk difference: −0.00, P = 0.94), need for re-admission (risk difference: −0.01, P = 0.50) and need for re-operation (odds ratio: 0.83, P = 0.50).

Conclusions

Although ERAS protocols are commonly used in elective settings, they are associated with favourable outcomes in emergency settings as indicated by reduced post-operative complications, accelerated recovery of bowel function and shorter post-operative hospital stay without increasing need for re-admission or re-operation. There should be an effort to incorporate ERAS protocols into emergency abdominal surgery settings.

     

Utilization of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery

IntroductionEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery are limited. In 2018, an ERAS protocol for patients undergoing robotically assisted vertical sleeve gastrectomy (r-VSG) was instituted. This study's aim was to compare outcomes before and after ERAS initiation.MethodsA single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing r-VSG from July 2015 to July 2021 was performed. The multimodal ERAS protocol focused on limiting post-operative nausea and narcotic utilization. Subjects were categorized into non-ERAS (July 2015–July 2018) and ERAS (August 2018–July 2021) groups. In-hospital and 30-day outcomes were compared.Results110 subjects (94 females) with a median age of 17.6 years (range 12.5–22.0 years) were included (60 non-ERAS, 50 ERAS). Demographics were similar except for a higher proportion of females in the non-ERAS group (97% vs 72%, p < 0.001). A significant decrease in narcotic use (p < 0.001) and higher utilization of acetaminophen (p < 0.001) and ketorolac (p < 0.001) was observed in the ERAS group. Additionally, median time to oral intake, a proxy for postoperative nausea and vomiting [2:00 h (1:15, 2:30) vs. 3:22 h (2:03, 6:15), p < 0.001] and hospital length of stay (LOS) [1.25 days (1.14, 1.34) vs. 2.16 days (1.48, 2.42), p < 0.001] were shorter in the ERAS group. Eleven subjects (10%; ERAS = 5, non-ERAS = 6) experienced post-discharge dehydration, prompting readmission 8 times for 7 (6%) individuals.ConclusionUtilization of ERAS led to a significant decrease narcotic utilization, time to first oral intake, and hospital LOS with no change in adverse events following pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery. Larger studies, including comparative analysis of health care utilization, should be carried out.Level of evidenceIII.Type of studyTreatment Study.     

Laparoscopic-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block as Part of Multimodal Analgesia in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Program: a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Despite the ultrasound guidance of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks has allowed greater precision of needle placement in the desired tissue plane, visualization of the abdominal wall muscles can be hindered by morbid obesity and could lead to failed regional anesthesia. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effect of laparoscopic-guided TAP block in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and to compare it with port-site infiltration.

Patients and Methods

A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed. Patients were randomized into two groups: patients undergoing laparoscopic-guided TAP (TAP-lap) and patients undergoing port-site infiltration (PSI). Pain quantification as measured by visual analogic scale (VAS) and morphine needs during the first 24 h were evaluated.

Results

One hundred and forty patients were included, 70 in each group. The mean operation time was 83.3?+?15.6 min in TAP-lap and 80.5?+?14.4 min in PSI (NS). The mean postoperative pain, as measured by VAS, 24 h after surgery was 16.8 +?11.2 mm in PSI and 10?+?8.1 mm in TAP-lap (p?=?0.001). Morphine rescues were necessary in 13.2% in PSI and 2.9% in TAP-lap (p?=?0.026). The mean hospital stay was 2.1?+?1.2 days in TAP-lap and 2.9?+?1.3 days in PSI (p?=?0.019). Hospital discharge during the first 48 h after surgery was possible in 52.9% of the patients in PSI and 71% in TAP-lap (OR 4.75; 95% CI 2.1–10.8; p?=?0.029).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic-guided TAP block can reduce postoperative pain, opioid needs, and hospital stay, when compared with port-site infiltration with the same anesthetic drug, without increasing operation time.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03203070

     

超声引导胸椎旁神经阻滞在胸腔镜肺叶切除术中应用的临床观察研究

目的:探讨超声引导胸椎旁神经阻滞与胸段硬膜外麻醉在胸腔镜肺叶切除术患者中的应用效果。方法:选择择期行胸腔镜肺叶切除术的患者52例,随机分为两组:胸段硬膜外麻醉组(E组,n=26)和超声引导椎旁神经阻滞组(P组,n=26)。记录并比较两组患者术中液体用量,舒芬太尼累积用量,血管活性药用量,术后6、12、24、36、48、72 h六个时间点安静和深呼吸时的视觉模拟评分(VAS),拉姆齐镇静评分(RSS),术后恶心呕吐次数,不良反应发生率等。结果:(1)两组术中舒芬太尼累积用量和液体用量无明显差异,但E组麻醉时长和血管活性药应用比例大于P组,女性患者比例小于P组(P<0.05);(2)术后6 h、12 h,P组的动态VAS评分均低于E组(P<0.05);(3)所有时间点,两组的静态VAS评分差异均无统计学意义;(4)术后6 h、24 h,P组的RSS评分全部大于E组(P<0.05);(5)P组的穿刺点外渗比例小于E组,干呕比例大于E组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:VATS肺叶切除术后患者采用超声引导椎旁神经阻滞联合静脉自控镇痛与硬膜外镇痛效果相当,且操作简单、不良反应少。     

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol: Prospective Study of Outcome in Colorectal Surgery

Background : Fast-track programs (ERAS) have been shown to improve postoperative recovery in colorectal surgery, combining newer anesthetic and minimally invasive surgery with evidence-based adjustments to facilitate revalidation. This prospective study evaluated the outcome of an ERAS protocol implementation in a university colorectal unit.

Methods : Between 2009 and 2010, 94 patients (49 males and 45 females) underwent an elective colorectal resection and were included in this protocol. All data were prospectively gathered in an electronic database. A cohort comparison was performed with 120 patients operated on in 2008 before ERAS implementation.

Results : The median age was 58 years [range: 29–76 years] and the median ASA score was 2. All colorectal procedures (85 sigmoid resections, 7 right hemicolectomies and 2 low anterior resections) were performed laparoscopically, with a conversion rate of 9,5%. Complications were noted in 14 patients (14,9%); two patients (2,1%) required a laparoscopic drainage of an infected hematoma during initial hospital stay. A significant (p < 0,001) reduced median postoperative hospital stay of 4 days [range: 2–11 days] in the ERAS group, compared with 6 days [range: 3–37] in the non fast-track group was noted. Early readmission occurred in five patients (5,3%) because of anastomotic leakage (n = 2), ileus (n = 2) and a wound infection (n = 1).

Conclusion : These results of length of stay, morbidity and readmission-rates have important implications for the organization of health care, waiting lists and costs. Therefore the ERAS principles should be more wide-spread implemented.