The Safety and Feasibility of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Construction of sensitive quality indicators for rapid rehabilitation care of patients after combined pancreaticoduodenectomy

AIM

To construct evidence-based sensitive quality indicators for patients' rapid rehabilitation care after combined pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and to provide a reference for clinical nursing professionals to scientifically evaluate the quality of patients' rehabilitation post-PD.

BACKGROUND

Since PD is associated with higher surgical risk and anastomotic complications, it leads to higher complication rates and longer postoperative recovery cycles. This reiterates the need for rapid recovery of patients after PD; however, the evaluation of sensitive nursing care indicators regarding rapid recovery post-PD has not yet been established to date.

METHODS

Based on the Donabedian structure-process-result theory model, we used available literature, semi-structured interviews, the Delphi method, and hierarchical analysis to establish a sensitive indicator system for patients' rapid rehabilitation after PD and evaluate the importance of such indicators.

RESULTS

There were two rounds of expert correspondence, and the effective recovery rate of the questionnaires of these rounds was 100%. The expert authority coefficients, as well as the Kendall coordination coefficients of the expert opinions, were 0.859 and 0.872 as well as 0.423 and 0.431, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), respectively. Consequently, we developed a sensitive quality index system for patients' rapid rehabilitation care after combined PD, including 3 first-level, 12 s-level, and 23 third-level indexes, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The constructed sensitive quality index system developed for patients' rapid rehabilitation nursing care after combined PD is standardized, practical, and aligned with the specialty characteristics. Furthermore, this might help greatly in improving the quality and safety of patients' rapid rehabilitation nursing care after combined PD, standardizing nursing management skills, and enhancing nursing quality.

Prospective study on the effects of mechanical bowel preparation under the enhanced recovery after surgery concept on electrolyte disturbances and functional recovery after robotic surgery for urologic tumors in older adults

BACKGROUND

Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) involves the cleansing of bowel excreta and secretions using methods such as preoperative oral laxatives, retrograde enemas, and dietary adjustments. When combined with oral antibiotics, preoperative MBP can effectively lower the risk of anastomotic leakage, minimize the occurrence of postoperative infections, and reduce the likelihood of other complications. To study the effects of MBP under the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) concept on postoperative electrolyte disorders and functional recovery in older people with urological tumors undergoing robot-assisted surgery.

METHODS

Older people with urological tumors undergoing robot-assisted surgery were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 76) underwent preoperative MBP, while the control group (n = 72) did not. The differences in electrolyte levels and functional recovery between the two groups after radical surgery for urological tumors were observed.

RESULTS

The incidence of postoperative electrolyte disorders was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group, with incidence rates of 42.1% and 19.4%, respectively (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that the electrolyte disorder was age-related (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative complications, gastrointestinal function recovery, laboratory indicators of infection, body temperature, and length of hospital stay (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Under the accelerated recovery background, preoperative MBP increases the risk of postoperative electrolyte disorders in older people with urological tumors and does not reduce the incidence of postoperative complications or promote postoperative functional recovery.

The Role of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to compare the safety and short-term outcomes of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) with standard care for patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) based on literature published following the first publication of ERAS guidelines for PD.

METHODS

Five medical databases were searched for studies that compared ERAS to standard care in adults undergoing PD. Data on postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, readmissions, and time to chemotherapy were analyzed using either a fixed- or random-effects model meta-analysis. Meta-regressions were conducted to investigate the role of operative technique, study origin, and study design.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 22 studies involving 4,043 patients. ERAS was associated with fewer complications (relative risk [RR]: 0.83; 0.75-0.91), particularly Clavien-Dindo (CD) grade 1 and 2 complications (RR: 0.82; 0.72-0.92), delayed gastric emptying (RR: 0.69; 0.52-0.93), and postoperative fistula (POPF) (RR: 0.76; 0.66-0.89), and a shorter time to chemotherapy (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.68; 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.48). ERAS did not affect the risk for CD grade 3 and 4 complications (RR: 1.00; 0.72-1.38), post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (RR: 0.88; 0.67-1.14), length of stay (SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -1.12 to 0.01), readmission (RR: 1.01; 0.84-1.21), and mortality (RR: 0.81; 0.54-1.22). The continent of origin was an effect moderator in the role of ERAS in CD grade 1 and 2 complications (p = 0.047) and POPF (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Implementing ERAS principles in PD improves surgical outcomes without compromising safety. ERAS may also accelerate time to chemotherapy, an essential issue for future research.

Perioperative Immunosuppressive Factors during Cancer Surgery: An Updated Review

Surgical excision of the primary tumor represents the most frequent and curative procedure for solid malignancies. Compelling evidence suggests that, despite its beneficial effects, surgery may impair immunosurveillance by triggering an immunosuppressive inflammatory stress response and favor recurrence by stimulating minimal residual disease. In addition, many factors interfere with the immune effectors before and after cancer procedures, such as malnutrition, anemia, or subsequent transfusion. Thus, the perioperative period plays a key role in determining oncological outcomes and represents a short phase to circumvent anesthetic and surgical deleterious factors by supporting the immune system through the use of synergistic pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. In line with this, accumulating studies indicate that anesthetic agents could drive both protumor or antitumor signaling pathways during or after cancer surgery. While preclinical investigations focusing on anesthetics' impact on the behavior of cancer cells are quite convincing, limited clinical trials studying the consequences on survival and recurrences remain inconclusive. Herein, we highlight the main factors occurring during the perioperative period of cancer surgery and their potential impact on immunomodulation and cancer progression. We also discuss patient management prior to and during surgery, taking into consideration the latest advances in the literature.

Evaluation of enhanced recovery after surgery for gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

For complicated surgical patients, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) decreases stress and hospital stays. It accelerates recovery and lowers readmissions, morbidity, and death. ERAS's effectiveness in stomach cancer laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) or robotic gastrectomy is still debated.

Aim

This study assesses the efficacy and safety of the ERAS program for patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Material and methods

PRISMA-compliant searches were performed in Medline, Embase, PubMed, the Web of Sciences, and the Cochrane Library databases until March 2023. The search included articles that compared ERAS protocol results for gastric cancer surgery patients to conventional care. RevMan performed meta-analysis, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool assessed study quality.

Results

This meta-analysis contained 11 carefully chosen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1790 people. The ERAS group had 902 participants, while the traditional care group had 888. The ERAS group had a shorter post-operative hospital stay, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of -1.12 days (95% CI: -1.89 to -0.35, p = 0.00001), I2 = 89%, and a lower number of patients with post-operative problems, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.55 to 0.97; p = 0.03), I2 = 60%.

Conclusions

The ERAS procedure has been shown to be effective as well as beneficial for patients undergoing either laparoscopic-assisted or robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer, since it lowers post-operative complications and accelerates recovery with improved results.

Global Perceptions on ERAS® in Pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Uptake of ERAS® pathways for pancreatic surgery have been slow and impacted by low compliance.

OBJECTIVE

To explore global awareness, perceptions and practice of ERAS® peri-pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODS

A structured, web-based survey (EPSILON) was administered through the ERAS® society and IHPBA membership.

RESULTS

The 140 respondents included predominantly males (86.4%), from Europe (45%), practicing surgery (95%) at academic/teaching hospitals (63.6%) over a period of 10-20 years (38.6%). Most respondents identified themselves as general surgeons (68.6%) with 40.7% reporting an annual PD volume of 20-50 cases, practicing post-PD clinical pathways (37.9%), with 31.4% of respondents auditing their outcomes annually. Reduced medical complications, cost and hospital length of stay, and improved patient satisfaction were perceived benefits of compliance to enhancing-recovery. Multidisciplinary co-ordination was considered the most important factor in the implementation and sustainability of peri-PD ERAS® pathways, while reluctance to change among health care practitioners, difficulties in data collection and audit, lack of administrative support, and recruitment of an ERAS® dedicated nurse were reported to be important barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

The EPSILON survey highlighted global clinician perceptions regarding the benefits of compliance to peri-PD ERAS®, the importance of individual components, perceived facilitators and barriers, to the implementation and sustainability of these pathways.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for gallbladder carcinoma: safety, feasibility, and oncological outcomes

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder carcinoma (GC) is a rare malignant tumor. Laparoscopic technology has revolutionized the reality of surgery. However, whether laparoscopic surgery is suitable for GC has not been clarified. We aimed to analyze the safety, feasibility, and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in GC.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with GC treated at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent laparoscopic and open surgery were compared. Propensity score matched analysis was performed to balance the basic characteristics of the two groups. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to describe and compare the overall and disease-free survival rates between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 163 patients with GC were included. Cholelithiasis was detected in 64 (39.3%) patients. Seventy patients were matched after propensity score matching. The laparoscopic group was significantly better than the open group in terms of operation time (p < 0.001), blood loss (p = 0.002), drain time (p = 0.001), and hospital stay (p < 0.001). After a median follow-up time of 19 (12, 35) months, there was no significant difference in the cumulative overall (p = 0.650) and disease-free (p = 0.663) survival rates between the laparoscopic and open groups according to Kaplan-Meier curves.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery can reduce the operation time and blood loss, and shorten drain time and hospital stay without increasing the incidence of complications. Patients undergoing laparoscopic and open surgery have a similar prognosis. Laparoscopic surgery is worth promoting in patients with GC.

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

PURPOSE

The 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.

METHODS

A 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.

RESULTS

There 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.

CONCLUSION

A 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.

Effects of early enteral nutrition on pancreatic fistula and long-term prognosis after distal pancreatectomy or enucleation of pancreatic tumours in a major academic university hospital in China: protocol for a single-centre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains one of the main complications following pancreatic resection. Despite pancreatic fistula having a low postoperative mortality rate, the readmission and intervention rates in patients with pancreatic fistula are still considerable. Although there are several studies on pancreatic fistula development after pancreaticoduodenectomy, there are only a few studies on the feeding protocols applied after distal pancreatectomy or enucleation of pancreatic tumours. We designed this trial to test the hypothesis that early feeding does not increase the incidence of POPF and positively influences the long-term prognosis in patients who undergo distal pancreatectomy or enucleation of pancreatic tumours.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective randomised controlled trial that will be conducted in a single centre. A total of 106 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy or enucleation of pancreatic tumours will be recruited after providing informed consent. They will be randomly assigned to either an early or late feeding group. The early feeding group will begin enteral nutrition on postoperative day (POD) 3, and the late feeding group will begin enteral nutrition on POD7. The primary outcome is the incidence of POPF. The secondary outcomes include the length of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative complications, and indicators of long-term prognosis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Peking University Third Hospital Medical Science Research Ethics Committee approved the study (M2021395). Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and in national and/or international meetings to guide future practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2100053978.

Costs and clinical benefits of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in pancreaticoduodenectomy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

ERAS is a holistic and multidisciplinary pathway that incorporates various evidence-based interventions to accelerate recovery and improve clinical outcomes. However, evidence on cost benefit of ERAS in pancreaticoduodenectomy remains scarce. This review aimed to investigate cost benefit, compliance, and clinical benefits of ERAS in pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and the Cochrane library to identify studies conducted between 2000 and 2021, comparing effect of ERAS programmes and traditional care on hospital cost, length of stay (LOS), complications, delayed gastric emptying (DGE), readmission, reoperation, mortality, and compliance.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3 RCTs and 28 cohort studies. Hospital costs were significantly reduced in the ERAS group (SMD = - 1.41; CL, - 2.05 to - 0.77; P < 0.00001). LOS was shortened by 3.15 days (MD = - 3.15; CI, - 3.94 to - 2.36; P < 0.00001) in the ERAS group. Fewer patients in the ERAS group had complications (RR = 0.83; CI, 0.76-0.91; P < 0.0001). Incidences of DGE significantly decreased in the ERAS group (RR = 0.72; CI, 0.55-0.94; P = 0.01). The number of deaths was fewer in the ERAS group (RR = 0.76; CI, 0.58-1.00; P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This review demonstrated that ERAS is safe and feasible in pancreaticoduodenectomy, improves clinical outcome such as LOS, complications, DGE and mortality rates, without changing readmissions and reoperations, while delivering significant cost savings. Higher compliance is associated with better clinical outcomes, especially LOS and complications.

Predicting early discharge and readmission following pancreaticoduodenectomy [S079]

INTRODUCTION

Implementing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for major abdominal surgery has been shown to decrease length of stay (LOS) and postoperative complications, including mortality and readmission. Little is known to guide which patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) should be eligible for ERAS protocols.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A retrospective chart review of all PD performed from 2010 to 2018 within an integrated healthcare system was conducted. A predictive score that ranges from 0 to 4 was developed, with one point assigned to each of the following: obesity (BMI > 30), operating time > 400 min, estimated blood loss (EBL) > 400 mL, low- or high-risk pancreatic remnant (based on the presence of soft gland or small duct). Chi-squared tests and ANOVA were used to assess the relationship between this score and LOS, discharge before postoperative day 7, readmission, mortality, delayed gastric emptying (DGE), and pancreatic leak/fistula.

RESULTS

291 patients were identified. Mean length of stay was 8.5 days in those patients who scored 0 compared to 16.2 days for those who scored 4 (p = 0.001). 30% of patients who scored 0 were discharged before postoperative day 7 compared to 0% of those who scored 4 (p = 0.019). Readmission rates for patients who scored 0 and 4 were 12% and 33%, respectively (p = 0.017). Similarly, postoperative pancreatic fistula occurred in 2% versus 25% in these groups (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

A simple scoring system using BMI, operating time, EBL, and pancreatic remnant quality can help risk-stratify postoperative PD patients. Those with lower scores could potentially be managed via an ERAS protocol. Patients with higher scores required longer hospitalizations, and adjunctive therapy such as medication and surgical technique to decrease risk of delayed gastric emptying and pancreatic fistula could be considered.

Optimized perioperative management (fast-track, ERAS) to enhance postoperative recovery in elective colorectal surgery

Aim

This manuscript provides information on the history, principles, and clinical results of Fast-track or ERAS concepts to optimize perioperative management (OPM).

Methods

With the focus on elective colorectal surgery description of the OPM concept and its elements for with special attention to the prevention of infectious complications and clinical results compared to traditional care will be given using recent systematic literature reviews. Additionally, clinical results for other major abdominal procedures are given.

Results

An optimized perioperative management protocol for elective colorectal resections will currently consist of 25 perioperative elements. These elements include the time from before hospital admission (patient education, screening, and treatment of possible risk factors like anemia, malnutrition, cessation of nicotine or alcohol abuse, optimization of concurrent systemic disease, physical prehabilitation, carbohydrate loading, adequate bowel preparation) to the preoperative period (shortened fasting, non-sedative premedication, prophylaxis of PONV and thromboembolic complications), intraoperative measures (systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, standardized anesthesia, normothermia and normovolemia, minimally invasive surgery, avoidance of drains and tubes) as well as postoperative actions (early oral feeding, enforced mobilization, early removal of a urinary catheter, stimulation of intestinal propulsion, control of hyperglycemia). Most of these elements are based on high-level evidence and will also have effects on the incidence of postoperative infectious complications.

Conclusion

Optimized perioperative management should be mandatory for elective surgery today as it enhances postoperative patient recovery, reduces morbidity and infectious complications.

A Scientometric Analysis and Visualization Discovery of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a new clinical surgical concept, has been applied in many surgical disciplines with good clinical results for the past 20 years. Bibliometric analysis is an effective method to quantitatively evaluate the academic productivity. This report aimed to perform a scientometric analysis of the ERAS research status and research hotspots.

Methods

Comprehensive scientific mapping analysis of a wide range of literature metadata using the scientometric tools, including the Bibliometrix R Package, Biblioshiny, and CiteSpace. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database of original articles from 2001 to 2020. Specific indicators and maps were analyzed to show the co-authorship, co-institute, co-country, co-citation, and international cooperation. Automatic literature screening, unsupervised cluster filtering, and topic cluster identification methods were used to display the conceptual framework and thematic evolution.

Results

A total of 1,403 research projects drafted by 6,966 authors and published in 413 sources were found. There was an exponential growth in the number of publications on ERAS. There were 709 collaborations between authors from different countries, and the US, China, and the UK had the greatest number of publications. The WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGERY, located in Bradford’s Law 1, had the highest number of published articles (n = 1,276; total citations = 3,193). CiteSpace network analysis revealed 15 highly correlated cluster ERAS studies, and the earliest study was on colonic surgery, and ERAS was recently applied in cardiac surgery. The etiology of ERAS is constantly evolving, with surgery and length of hospital as the main topics. Meta-analyses and perioperative care have tended to decline.

Conclusion

This is the first scientometric analysis of ERAS to provide descriptive quantitative indicators. This can provide a better understanding of how the field has evolved over the past 20 years, help identify research trends, and provide insights and research directions for academic researchers, policymakers, and medical practitioners who want to collaborate in these areas in the future.

The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been adopted in some maternity units and studied extensively in cesarean section (CS) in the last years, showing encouraging results in clinic practice. However, the present evidence assessing the effectiveness of ERAS for CS remains weak, and there is a paucity in the published literature, especially in improving maternal outcomes. Our study aimed to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ERAS protocols for CS. Methods: A systematic literature search using Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was carried out up to October 2020. The appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies applying ERAS for patients undergoing CS were included in this study, comparing the effect of ERAS protocols with conventional care on length of hospital stay (LOS), readmission rate, incidence of postoperative complications, postoperative pain score, postoperative opioid use, and cost of hospitalization. All statistical analyses were conducted with the RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Ten studies (four RCTs and six observational studies) involving 16,391 patients were included. ERAS was associated with a decreased LOS (WMD -7.47 h, 95% CI: -8.36 to -6.59 h, p < 0.00001) and lower incidence of postoperative complications (RR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.68, p < 0.00001). Moreover, pooled analysis showed that postoperative pain score (WMD: -1.23, 95% CI: -1.32 to -1.15, p < 0.00001), opioid use (SMD: -0.46, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.34, p < 0.00001), and hospital cost (SMD:-0.54, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.45, p < 0.00001) were significantly lower in the ERAS group than in the conventional care group. No significant difference was observed with regard to readmission rate (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.54, p = 0.62). Conclusions: The available evidence suggested that ERAS applying to CS significantly reduced postoperative complications, lowered the postoperative pain score and opioid use, shortened the hospital stay, and potentially reduced hospital cost without compromising readmission rates. Therefore, protocols implementing ERAS in CS appear to be effective and safe. However, the results should be interpreted with caution owing to the limited number and methodological quality of included studies; hence, future large, well-designed, and better methodological quality studies are needed to enhance the body of evidence.

Working towards an ERAS Protocol for Pancreatic Transplantation: A Narrative Review

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) initially started in the early 2000s as a series of protocols to improve the perioperative care of surgical patients. They aimed to increase patient satisfaction while reducing postoperative complications and postoperative length of stay. Despite these protocols being widely adopted in many fields of surgery, they are yet to be adopted in pancreatic transplantation: a high-risk surgery with often prolonged length of postoperative stay and high rate of complications. We have analysed the literature in pancreatic and transplantation surgery to identify the necessary preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative components of an ERAS pathway in pancreas transplantation.

Achieving 'Marginal Gains' to Optimise Outcomes in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Simple Summary

Improving outcomes in pancreatic cancer is achievable through the accumulation of marginal gains. There exists evidence of variation and undertreatment in many areas of the care pathway. By fully realising the existing opportunities, there is the potential for immediate improvements in outcomes and quality of life.

Abstract

Improving outcomes among patients with resectable pancreatic cancer is one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. Major improvements in survival will result from the development of novel therapies. However, optimising existing pathways, so that patients realise benefits of already proven treatments, presents a clear opportunity to improve outcomes in the short term. This narrative review will focus on treatments and interventions where there is a clear evidence base to improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer, and where there is also evidence of variation and under-treatment. Avoidance of preoperative biliary drainage, treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, prehabiliation and enhanced recovery after surgery, reducing perioperative complications, optimising opportunities for elderly patients to receive therapy, optimising adjuvant chemotherapy and regular surveillance after surgery are some of the strategies discussed. Each treatment or pathway change represents an opportunity for marginal gain. Accumulation of marginal gains can result in considerable benefit to patients. Given that these interventions already have evidence base, they can be realised quickly and economically.

Enhanced recovery after pancreatoduodenectomy-does age have a bearing?

INTRODUCTION

With the proven benefits of enhanced recovery protocols (ERP) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), their implementation has become a well-accepted clinical practice across the major pancreatic surgery centres of the world. The impact of age on the execution of ERP has remained an area of ambiguity. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of age on the feasibility of various postoperative elements of ERP after PD.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted which included 548 patients undergoing PD, managed using ERP, from March 2013 to September 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: < 70 years and ≥ 70 years. Compliance to recovery parameters and postoperative outcomes, including, the incidence of major complications, length of stay (LOS), mortality rates and re-admissions, were compared between the two groups. The impact of age, as a continuous variable, was also studied on the feasibility of each postoperative element.

RESULTS

One-fifth (113/548) of the cohort comprised of patients aged 70 years and above. The 'elderly' patients had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac disease. They were also more likely to get admitted to the intensive care unit for postoperative monitoring (p < 0.001). The median LOS was 8.0 days in the young and 9.0 days in the elderly (p = 0.253). Rate of major complications (age < 70, n = 37 (8.5%) vs age ≥ 70, n = 7 (6.2%), p = 0.421) and 30-day mortality (age < 70, n = 15 (3.4%) vs age ≥ 70, n = 7 (6.2%), p = 0.185) was not statistically different between the two groups. Compliance of various postoperative elements was similar between the two groups. When studied as a continuous variable, age did not seem to be associated with higher non-compliance of any of the postoperative recovery elements.

CONCLUSION

Age is not a barrier in the safe implementation of postoperative element of ERPs after PD. Enhanced recovery protocols do not need to be modified for the aged.

[Enhanced recovery after surgery-Does the ERAS concept keep its promises]

INTRODUCTION

Perioperative enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concepts or fast-track are supposed to accelerate recovery after surgery, reduce postoperative complications and shorten the hospital stay when compared to traditional perioperative treatment.

METHODS

Electronic search of the PubMed database to identify systematic reviews with meta-analysis (SR) comparing ERAS and traditional treatment.

RESULTS

The presented SR investigated 70 randomized controlled studies (RCT) with 12,986 patients and 93 non-RCT (24,335 patients) concerning abdominal, thoracic and vascular as well as orthopedic surgery. The complication rates were decreased under ERAS following colorectal esophageal, liver and pulmonary resections as well as after implantation of hip endoprostheses. Pulmonary complications were reduced after ERAS esophageal, gastric and pulmonary resections. The first bowel movements occurred earlier after ERAS colorectal resections and delayed gastric emptying was less often observed after ERAS pancreatic resection. Following ERAS fast-track esophageal resection, anastomotic leakage was diagnosed less often as well as surgical complications after ERAS pulmonary resection. The ERAS in all studies concerning orthopedic surgery and trials investigating implantation of a hip endoprosthesis or knee endoprosthesis reduced the risk for postoperative blood transfusions. Regardless of the type of surgery, ERAS shortened hospital stay without increasing readmissions.

CONCLUSION

Numerous clinical trials have confirmed that ERAS reduces postoperative morbidity, shortens hospital stay and accelerates recovery without increasing readmission rates following most surgical operations.

Complications after Supramajor Gastrointestinal Surgery: Role of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is currently the standard of care in perioperative medicine, but it is widely underutilized in our healthcare setting because of the lack of awareness of benefits exerted by ERAS and its components. ERAS is a multidisciplinary collaboration, where intensivists play an important role in the implementation of the protocol during the perioperative period.

Aim

This review article aims to appraise the role of ERAS pathway on complications following supramajor gastrointestinal surgery.

Review

A summary and review of evidence was conducted on the role of ERAS and its elements on non-specific and surgery-specific complications. Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) and its elements were directly found to be associated with lower incidence of hospital-associated infections, postoperative ileus, and postoperative pulmonary complications. Although there are no specific elements of ERPs found to have beneficial effect in preventing major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, and surgery-specific complications such as postoperative pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying, post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage, post-hepatic liver failure, bile, and anastomotic leak, studies have demonstrated that implementation of an ERP bundle can decrease the incidence of these complications. Implementation of an ERP was associated with an increase in the incidence of acute kidney injury with minor elevations in creatinine that returned to baseline before discharge.

Conclusion

Although there is ample evidence that ERAS is beneficial in reducing complications and hospital stay following supramajor gastrointestinal surgery, there is scope for further research to unravel the role of ERAS on patient-reported outcomes.

How to cite this article

Thomas M, Joshi R, Bhandare M, Agarwal V. Complications after Supramajor Gastrointestinal Surgery: Role of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(Suppl 4):S205–S210.