Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for gastrointestinal surgery, part 2: consensus statement for anaesthesia practice

Dry or wet? Fluid therapy in upper gastrointestinal surgery patients

A correct perioperative fluid administration represents one of the most important items proposed by the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society. Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgery patients undergoing major oncological procedures are often elderly and frail. Should we prefer a wet or a dry patient? Both conditions should probably be avoided in this surgical setting. We present a narrative review on perioperative fluid administration in UGI patients undergoing major surgery, also analyzing the role of Goal Directed therapy.

[Update on fast-track concepts in operative medicine : Improved outcome and higher patient satisfaction through interdisciplinary multimodal treatment concepts]

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been propagated in general surgery since the mid-1990s due to medical and health economic advantages for patients as well as hospitals. A comprehensive implementation in Germany is not yet established, although the demographic change requires more than ever concepts for the safe treatment of multimorbid frail patients. The aim of this review is to present modern ERAS concepts, to discuss an extension to prehabilitation measures for frail patients and to present aspects of structural feasibility.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A selective literature search in the PubMed database was performed and national as well as international guidelines up to the cut-off date of 1 July 2022 were considered.

RESULTS

From an anesthesiological point of view, preoperative optimization, individual anesthesia management and postoperative analgesia are prioritized. The implementation of ERAS protocols requires a high degree of interdisciplinarity and needs in addition to medical know-how, appropriate information systems and structures. Modern ERAS concepts can reduce hospital costs and improve patient outcome.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of ERAS protocols is beneficial for patients as well as economically and should be further promoted. In addition, the benefit of an extension of ERAS concepts, e.g. in older multimorbid patients, should be further scientifically analyzed.

Thoracic epidural analgesia vs. patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for patients undergoing open or laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: An observational study

BACKGROUND

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is an invasive technique with potential side effects but is widely used in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes in colorectal cancer surgery. The effects of TEA on postoperative length of hospital stay (LOS) or morbidity is still debated.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective was to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of TEA compared with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery, and whether TEA contributes to enhanced recovery.

DESIGN

A retrospective single-centre, observational study.

SETTING

Dutch tertiary-care university hospital.

PATIENTS

All consecutive adult patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016, with ASA status I-IV, were included. Exclusion criteria were hypersensitivity to opioid or local anaesthetic substances, or the use of multiple secondary anaesthetic techniques.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome, postoperative pain assessed with a Numeric Rating Scale on postoperative days 1 to 3 inclusive. Secondary endpoints were LOS, the incidence of epidural related side effects, major complications and the 5-year survival rate. Using linear mixed models, pain scores were compared between patients who received TEA and PCIA.

RESULTS

Of 422 enrolled patients, 110 (32%) received TEA and 234 (68%) PCIA. Patients in the TEA group had lower pain scores: estimated NRS difference at rest; -0.79; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.49; P < 0.001 and during movement -1.06; 95% CI, -1.39 to -0.73; P < 0.001. LOS, 30-day complication rate and overall survival at 5 years did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

TEA in open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery is associated with moderately better postoperative pain control but does not affect LOS, postoperative morbidity, mortality nor long-term survival. The current clinical indication for TEA in colorectal surgery remains unchanged.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International clinical trial registration number: ISRCTN11426678; retrospectively registered 26 February 2021.

Risk factor analysis and construction of prediction models for short-term postoperative complications in patients undergoing gastrointestinal tract surgery

Purpose

To identify risk factors associated with short-term postoperative complications in patients with gastrointestinal cancer and develop and validate prediction models to predict the probability of complications.

Methods

A total of 335 patients enrolled in the primary cohort of this study were divided into training and validation sets in a chronological order. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, the risk factors for postoperative complications were determined, and nomogram prediction models were constructed. The performance of the nomogram was assessed with respect to the receiver operator characteristic and calibration curves.

Results

Patients with complications had a stronger postoperative stress response and a longer duration of daily fluid intake/output ratio >1 after surgery. Logistic analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI), body temperature on POD4 (T.POD4), neutrophil percentage on POD4 (N.POD4), fasting blood glucose on POD4 (FBG.POD4), and the presence of fluid intake/output ratio <1 within POD4 were risk factors for POD7 complications, and that BMI, T.POD7, N.POD7, FBG.POD4, FBG.POD7, and the duration of daily fluid intake/output ratio >1 were risk factors for POD30 complications. The areas under the curve of Nomogram-A for POD7 complications were 0.867 and 0.833 and those of Nomogram-B for POD30 complications were 0.920 and 0.918 in the primary and validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration curves showed good consistency in both cohorts.

Conclusion

This study presented two nomogram models to predict short-term postoperative complications in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The results could help clinicians identify patients at high risk of complications within POD7 or POD30.

Associations between postpartum pain type, pain intensity and opioid use in patients with and without opioid use disorder: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pain is a multidimensional construct. The purpose of this cross-sectional, single-centre study was to evaluate the relationship between postpartum pain type with pain intensity and opioid use in people with and without opioid use disorder (OUD).

METHODS

Postpartum pain type was coded from McGill Pain Questionnaire and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) inventories in people with or without OUD after childbirth in a 4-month period. The co-primary outcomes were pain intensity (0-10 scale) and total inpatient oxycodone (mg). Multivariable linear mixed-effects models assessed between- and within-person relationships for pain type (primary predictor) and outcomes.

RESULTS

There were 44 522 unique pain scores and types from 2610 people. Pain types were associated with pain intensity (P<0.001). Between-person comparisons showed affective pain was associated with a small but higher total oxycodone dose (difference 1.04 mg compared with no affective pain, P<0.001). Among people with OUD, within-person comparisons showed that the presence of affective pain resulted in pain scores 1 point higher than when affective pain was not present (P=0.002); between-person comparisons showed that people with affective pain had pain scores 6 points higher (P=0.048). Within-person and between-person comparisons among OUD showed that nociceptive/neuropathic pain was associated with a higher total oxycodone dose (1.6 and 11.4 mg, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Postpartum pain type was associated with pain intensity and opioid use. Further research is required to address the multiple dimensions of postpartum pain in people with and without OUD to improve treatment of postpartum pain.

Clinical practice guidelines for enhanced recovery after colon and rectal surgery from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) are dedicated to ensuring high-quality innovative patient care for surgical patients by advancing the science, prevention, and management of disorders and diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus as well as minimally invasive surgery. The ASCRS and SAGES society members involved in the creation of these guidelines were chosen because they have demonstrated expertise in the specialty of colon and rectal surgery and enhanced recovery. This consensus document was created to lead international efforts in defining quality care for conditions related to the colon, rectum, and anus and develop clinical practice guidelines based on the best available evidence. While not proscriptive, these guidelines provide information on which decisions can be made and do not dictate a specific form of treatment. These guidelines are intended for the use of all practitioners, healthcare workers, and patients who desire information about the management of the conditions addressed by the topics covered in these guidelines. These guidelines should not be deemed inclusive of all proper methods of care nor exclusive of methods of care reasonably directed toward obtaining the same results. The ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. This clinical practice guideline represents a collaborative effort between the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and was approved by both societies.

Optimal Perioperative Fluid Therapy Associates with Fewer Complications After Pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Optimal fluid management in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients remains contested. We aimed to examine the association between perioperative fluid administration and postoperative complications.

METHODS

We studied 168 pancreaticoduodenectomy patients operated in 2015 (n = 93) or 2017 (n = 75) at Helsinki University Hospital. In 2015, patients received intraoperative fluids following a goal-directed approach and, in 2017, according to anesthesiologist's clinical practice (conventional fluid management). We analyzed the differences in perioperative fluid administration between the groups, specifically examining the occurrence of severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III), pancreatic fistulas, cardiovascular complications, and the length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

The goal-directed group received more intraoperative fluids than the conventional fluid management group (12.0 ml/kg/h vs. 8.3 ml/kg/h, p < 0.001). Urine output (770 ml vs. 575 ml, p = 0.004) and intraoperative fluid balance (9.4 ml/kg/h vs. 6.3 ml/kg/h, p < 0.001) were higher in the goal-directed group than in the conventional fluid management group. Severe surgical complications (19.4% vs. 38.7%, p = 0.009) as well as clinically relevant pancreatic fistulas (1.1% vs. 10.7%, p = 0.011) occurred more frequently in patients receiving conventional fluid management. Moreover, the conventional fluid management group experienced longer hospital stays (9.0 vs. 11.5 days, p = 0.02). Lower intraoperative fluid volume accompanying conventional fluid management was associated with a higher risk of severe postoperative complications compared with higher volume in the goal-directed group (odds ratio 2.58 (95% confidence interval 1.04-6.42), p = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

The goal-directed group experienced severe complications less frequently. Our findings indicate that optimizing the intraoperative fluid administration benefits patients, while adopting a too-restrictive approach represents an inferior choice.

Use of rocuronium and sugammadex for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is associated with reduced duration of chest tube drainage: a propensity score-matched analysis

BACKGROUND

We investigated the influence of different neuromuscular blocking agents and reversal agents during anaesthesia on early removal of chest tube drainage after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

METHODS

This retrospective single-centre study included patients who underwent VATS after tracheal intubation under general anaesthesia. Patients received either cisatracurium and neostigmine (n=547) or rocuronium and sugammadex (n=151). Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring was used and one chest tube (size 24 Fr) was inserted. To reduce potential bias, 140 patients from each group were matched by propensity score for sex, age, body mass index and indication for VATS. Primary outcome was duration of chest tube drainage after surgery.

RESULTS

Use of rocuronium and sugammadex was associated with a shorter duration of chest tube drainage (2 [1-2] vs 2 [1-3] days; P=0.049) and a 63% reduction in delayed chest tube removal (odds ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20-0.67; P=0.005). This group also had a lower incidence of postoperative atelectasis (P=0.047) and consolidation (P=0.008). Each 1 h increase in the duration of anaesthesia was associated with a 1.57-fold increase in the delayed removal of the chest tube (95% CI: 1.25-1.96; P=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

During general anaesthesia for VATS, compared with cisatracurium and neostigmine, use of rocuronium and sugammadex was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative delayed removal of the chest tube, atelectasis, and pulmonary consolidation.

Effects of electroacupuncture on perioperative anxiety and stress response in patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colorectal cancer: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Perioperative anxiety is one of the main psychological stresses experienced by patients who undergo cancer surgery. The surgery itself inevitably causes a stress response characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Both the perioperative anxiety and surgical stress response lead to increased levels of catecholamines and prostaglandins, which may be related to perioperative suppression of antimetastatic immunity and tumor-promoting alterations in the microenvironment. Hence, we designed this clinical trial to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture in reducing perioperative anxiety and surgical stress response.

METHODS

This is a randomized, single-center, parallel, and controlled clinical trial. Seventy-eight participants between the ages of 35 and 85 with gastric or colorectal cancer who plan to undergo tumorectomy will be randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a control group. The primary outcome will be the six-item short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score. The secondary outcomes will be the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale score; levels of plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α; first exhaust time after surgery; postoperative quality of the recovery-15 score, numeric rating scale for pain score; and dosage of postoperative analgesics.

DISCUSSION

Cumulative studies revealed the efficacy of various types of acupuncture therapy with regard to reducing the anxiety and stress response caused by surgery. We expect that the results of this trial will provide high-quality clinical evidence for the choice of perioperative acupuncture for patients undergoing cancer surgery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR200003 7127.

Optimal Insertion Depth of Gastric Decompression Tube with a Thermistor for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery in Trendelenburg Position

Monitoring core temperature is crucial for maintaining normothermia during general anesthesia. Insertion of a gastric decompression tube (GDT) may be required during laparoscopic surgery. Recently, a newly designed GDT with a thermistor for monitoring esophageal temperature has been introduced. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the optimal insertion depth of a GDT with a thermistor. Forty-eight patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery in the Trendelenburg position were included in the study. The GDT was inserted to a depth of nose-earlobe-xiphoid distance (NEX) + 12 cm and withdrawn sequentially, 2 cm at a time, at 5-min intervals. Temperatures of the GDT thermistor were compared with the core temperature of the tympanic membrane (TM) using Bland and Altman analysis. The correlation between optimal insertion depth of the GDT and anatomical distance (cricoid cartilage to the carina, CCD; carina to the left hemidiaphragm, CLHD) was evaluated, and a mathematical model to predict the optimal insertion depth of the GDT with a thermistor was calculated. Temperatures of TM and GDT thermistor at NEX + 4 cm showed good agreement and strong correlation, but better agreement and stronger correlation were seen at the actual location with the most minor temperature differences. The optimal insertion depth of the GDT was estimated as -15.524 + 0.414 × CCD - 0.145 × CLHD and showed a strong correlation with the actual GDT insertion depth (correlation coefficient 0.797, adjusted R² = 0.636). The mathematical formula using CCD and CLHD would be helpful in determining the optimal insertion depth of a GDT with a thermistor.

Risks of serious adverse events associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in gastrointestinal surgery. A protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

Post-operative pain is frequent following gastrointestinal surgery and may result in prolonged hospitalisation, delayed recovery, and lower quality of life. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective analgesics and recommended by Enhanced Recovery After Surgery guidelines as part of opioid-sparing multimodal treatment. However, perioperative NSAID treatment may be associated with increased risk of harm. We will investigate the risks of serious adverse events associated with perioperative NSAID treatment in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This protocol uses the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. We wish to assess the effects of NSAIDs versus placebo, usual care, or no intervention on the incidence of serious adverse in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. We will include all randomised trials. To identify trials, we will search the medical literature analysis and retrieval system online, excerpta medica database, cochrane central register of controlled trials, web of science core collection, and BIOSIS. Two authors will screen the literature and extract data. We will use the 'Risk of Bias 2 tool' to assess the risks of systematic errors. We will perform meta-analyses using R. We will use Trial Sequential Analysis to account for the risks of random errors. We will create a "Summary of Findings"-table in which we will present our primary and secondary outcome results. We will assess the certainty of the evidence using grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review can potentially elucidate the risks of perioperative NSAID treatment in gastrointestinal surgery and inform the already established non-opioid multimodal pain treatment regimen recommended by enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines.

Optimal anesthetic conduct regarding immediate and short-term outcomes after liver transplantation - Systematic review of the literature and expert panel recommendations

BACKGROUND

In the era of enhanced recovery after surgery, there is significant discussion regarding the impact of intraoperative anesthetic management on short-term outcomes following liver transplantation (LT), with no clear consensus in the literature.

OBJECTIVES

To identify whether or not intraoperative anesthetic management affects short-term outcomes after liver transplantation.

DATA SOURCES

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central.

METHODS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was undertaken. The systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021239758). An international expert panel made recommendations for clinical practice using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

After screening, 14 studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. Six were prospective randomized clinical trials, three were prospective nonrandomized clinical trials, and five were retrospective studies. These manuscripts were reviewed to look at five questions regarding anesthetic care and its impact on short term outcomes following liver transplant. After review of the literature, the quality of evidence according to the following outcomes was as follows: intraoperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality (low), early allograft dysfunction (low), and hospital and ICU length of stay (moderate).

CONCLUSIONS

For optimal short term outcomes after liver transplantation, the panel recommends the use of volatile anesthetics in preference to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) (Level of Evidence: Very low; Strength of Recommendation: Weak) and minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) versus bispectral index (BIS) for depth of anesthesia monitoring (Level of Evidence: Very low; Strength of Recommendation: Weak). Regarding ventilation and oxygenation, the panel recommends a restrictive oxygenation strategy targeting a PaO₂ of 70-120 mmHg (10-14 kPa), a tidal volume of 6-8 ml/kg ideal body weight (IBW), administration of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) tailored to patient intraoperative physiology, and recruitment maneuvers. (Level of evidence: Very low; Strength of Recommendation: Strong). Finally, the panel recommends the routine use of antiemetic prophylaxis. (Level of evidence: low; Strength of Recommendation: Strong).

Gastric Emptying of Maltodextrin versus Phytoglycogen Carbohydrate Solutions in Healthy Volunteers: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Preoperative carbohydrate beverages have been shown to be beneficial in improving patient outcomes. There have been several investigations into the safety of maltodextrin as a preoperative carbohydrate. Although alternative preoperative carbohydrate sources have been proposed, there have been few investigations into the safety and gastric emptying of novel carbohydrate beverages. The present study aimed to compare the gastric emptying of phytoglycogen and maltodextrin to evaluate safety for use as presurgical carbohydrate beverages. In a quasi-experimental design, ten healthy participants orally consumed either a 12.5% maltodextrin or a 12.5% phytoglycogen solution. Gamma scintigraphy was used to evaluate gastric emptying at baseline at 45, 90, and 120 min. Serum insulin and serum glucose were measured at baseline at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. Gastric volume was significantly lower in the phytoglycogen group at 45 min (p = 0.01) and 90 min (p = 0.01), but this difference lost significance at 120 min (p = 0.17). There were no significant differences between treatments for serum insulin or serum glucose at any time point. This study indicates that the gastric emptying of phytoglycogen is comparable to maltodextrin at 120 min after ingestion, opening the opportunity for the study of alternative carbohydrates for utilization as preoperative carbohydrates.

Fluids, vasopressors, and acute kidney injury after major abdominal surgery between 2015 and 2019: a multicentre retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Practice patterns related to intraoperative fluid administration and vasopressor use have potentially evolved over recent years. However, the extent of such changes and their association with perioperative outcomes, such as the development of acute kidney injury (AKI), have not been studied.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of major abdominal surgeries in adults across 26 US hospitals between 2015 and 2019. The primary outcome was AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definition (KDIGO) using only serum creatinine criteria. Univariable linear predictive additive models were used to describe the dose-dependent risk of AKI given fluid administration or vasopressor use.

RESULTS

Over the study period, we observed a decrease in the volume of crystalloid administered, a decrease in the proportion of patients receiving more than 10 ml kg^-1 h^-1 of crystalloid, an increase in the amount of norepinephrine equivalents administered, and a decreased duration of hypotension. The incidence of AKI increased between 2016 and 2019. An increase of crystalloid administration from 1 to 10 ml kg^-1 h^-1 was associated with a 58% decreased risk of AKI.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite decreased duration of hypotension during the study period, decreased fluid administration and increased vasopressor use were associated with increased incidence of AKI. Crystalloid administration below 10 ml kg^-1 h^-1 was associated with an increased risk of AKI. Although no causality can be concluded, these data suggest that prevention and treatment of hypotension during abdominal surgery with liberal use of vasopressors at the expense of fluid administration is associated with an increased risk of postoperative AKI.

Compatibility and stability of an admixture of multiple anaesthetic drugs for opioid-free anaesthesia

The ability to combine and use drugs in a single infusion device may be useful in resource-limited settings. This study examined the chemical stability of an opioid-sparing mixture of ketamine, lidocaine and magnesium sulphate when combined in a single syringe. High-performance liquid chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry were performed on six syringes containing the three-drug mixture. Since most opioid-sparing techniques typically rely on a 24-hour infusion regime, we tested stability at the initial admixing and 24 hours later. Stability was defined as a measured drug concentration within 10% of expected, with the absence of precipitation or pH alterations. Pharmacokinetic simulations were conducted to further show that the achieved plasma drug concentrations were well within an effective analgesic range. All mixed drug concentration measurements were within the required 10% reference limit. No obvious precipitation or interaction occurred, and pH remained stable. Drug stability was maintained for 24 hours. Pharmacokinetic simulations showed that ketamine and lidocaine were within their minimum analgesic effect concentrations. Our results show that this three-drug mixture is chemically stable for up to 24 hours after mixing, with a pharmacokinetic simulation illustrating safe, clinically useful predicted plasma concentrations when using the described admixture.

Factors Associated with Rebound Pain After Patient-controlled Epidural Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

Although patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is an effective form of regional analgesia for abdominal surgery, some patients experience significant rebound pain after the discontinuation of PCEA. However, risk factors for rebound pain associated with PCEA in major abdominal surgery remain unknown. This study evaluated the incidence of rebound pain related to PCEA and explored potential associated risk factors.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 236 patients using PCEA following hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery between 2018 and 2020 in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Rebound pain was defined as an increase from well-controlled pain (numeric rating scale <4) during epidural analgesia to severe pain (numeric rating scale ≥7) within 24 hours of discontinuation of PCEA. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with rebound pain.

RESULTS

A total of 236 patients were included in this study. Patients were categorized into the non-rebound pain group (170 patients; 72%) and the rebound pain group (66 patients; 28%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) below 45 (odds ratio [OR]=2.080, 95% confidential interval [CI]=1.061-4.079, P=0.033) and intraoperative transfusion (OR=4.190, 95% CI=1.436-12.226, P=0.009) were independently associated with rebound pain after PCEA discontinuation.

DISCUSSION

Rebound pain after PCEA occurred in approximately 30% of patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, resulting in insufficient postoperative pain management. Preoperative low PNI and intraoperative transfusion may be associated with rebound pain after PCEA discontinuation.

Restrictive intraoperative fluid intake in liver surgery and postoperative renal function: A propensity score matched study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hepatic surgery. In hepatic surgery, relative hypovolemia may help to limit blood loss, but the consequences of restrictive fluid intake are unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of intraoperative fluid intake on the incidence of AKI and its consequences.

METHODS

Data from 397 consecutive patients who underwent liver resection were prospectively recorded and retrospectively analyszed. We compared the incidence of postoperative acute kidney failure in patients given restrictive (≤ 5 mL/kg/h) versus liberal (> 5 mL/kg/h) fluid therapy. We calculated a 1:1 match propensity score using logistic regression to estimate the likelihood of patients receiving restrictive or liberal intraoperative fluid intakes. The association between the intraoperative fluid intake strategy and occurrence of postoperative AKI were tested using a Cox frailty model on the database of matched patients.

RESULTS

Postoperative AKI was diagnosed in 133 of the 397 patients. Fluid intake strategy was restrictive for 121 patients and liberal for 276 patients. After propensity score matching to balance confounding factors, the liberal strategy was associated with a significantly lower risk for postoperative AKI compared to the restrictive strategy (Hazard Ratio 0.40 [0.29; 0.56], P<0.001). Patients with postoperative AKI had longer hospital stays and higher mortality. There were no cases of further blood loss in the liberal fluid intake group.

CONCLUSIONS

A restrictive fluid intake strategy is a risk factor for developing postoperative AKI, with serious consequences, without reducing blood loss in liver surgery.

Does surgical plethysmographic index-guided analgesia affect opioid requirement and extubation time? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

This meta-analysis of all relevant clinical trials investigated surgical plethysmographic index (SPI)-guided analgesia’s efficacy under general anesthesia for perioperative opioid requirement and emergence time after anesthesia.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched up to January 2022 to identify clinical trials comparing SPI-guided and conventional clinical practice for patients who underwent general anesthesia. With the random-effects model, we compared intraoperative opioid consumption, emergence time, postoperative pain, analgesia requirement, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Results

Thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 1314) met our selection criteria. The overall pooled effect sizes of all RCTs indicated that SPI-guided analgesia could not significantly reduce opioid consumption during general anesthesia. SPI-guided analgesia accompanied with hypnosis monitoring could decrease intraoperative opioid consumption (standardized mean difference [SMD] − 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.63 to 0.00) more effectively than SPI without hypnosis monitoring (SMD 1.03, 95% CI 0.53–1.53), showing a significant difference (p < 0.001). SPI-guided analgesia could significantly shorten the emergence time, whether assessed by extubation time (SMD − 0.36, 95% CI − 0.70 to − 0.03, p < 0.05, I² = 67%) or eye-opening time (SMD − 0.40, 95% CI − 0.63 to − 0.18, p < 0.001, I² = 54%). SPI-guided analgesia did not affect the incidence of PONV, postoperative pain, and analgesia management.

Conclusion

SPI-guided analgesia under general anesthesia could enhance recovery after surgery without increasing the postoperative complication risk. However, it did not affect intraoperative opioid requirement. Notably, SPI-guided analgesia with hypnosis monitoring could effectively reduce intraoperative opioid requirement.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in spine surgery

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are a set of interventions which are carried out in the preoperative and perioperative period. They are aimed to decrease the harmful effects of surgery on the body and help the patient recover better post-surgery. The effectiveness of ERAS has been well established in various other surgical specialities. Earlier spine surgery was thought to be very complex for application of ERAS protocols. However, this has changed over the last decade with (ERAS) protocols gaining widespread popularity in spine surgery. Initial studies involving ERAS in spine surgery were limited to lumbar spine. However, over the years the horizon of ERAS has expanded to include anterior cervical surgeries, spine deformity, spinal tumors and spine surgery in the elderly. ERAS has been shown to reduce the length of hospital stay, overall hospital costs, opioid consumption in perioperative and postoperative period and to lower complication rates in spine surgery. In this narrative review, we discuss various aspects of ERAS in spine surgery including the benefits of ERAS in spine surgery, the various components of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative measures of ERAS protocol.

Enhanced recovery after surgery strategy to shorten perioperative fasting in children undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery strategies are increasingly implemented to improve the management of surgical patients.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of new perioperative fasting protocols in children ≥ 3 mo of age undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective pilot study included children ≥ 3 mo of age undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery at the Children’s Hospital (Zhejiang University School of Medicine) from January 2020 to June 2020. The children were divided into either a conventional group or an ERAS group according to whether they had been enrolled before or after the implementation of the new perioperative fasting strategy. The children in the conventional group were fasted using conventional strategies, while those in the ERAS group were given individualized fasting protocols preoperatively (6-h fasting for infant formula/non-human milk/solids, 4-h fasting for breast milk, and clear fluids allowed within 2 h of surgery) and postoperatively (food permitted from 1 h after surgery). Pre-operative and postoperative fasting times, pre-operative blood glucose, the incidence of postoperative thirst and hunger, the incidence of perioperative vomiting and aspiration, and the degree of satisfaction were evaluated.

RESULTS

The study included 303 patients (151 in the conventional group and 152 in the ERAS group). Compared with the conventional group, the ERAS group had a shorter pre-operative food fasting time [11.92 (4.00, 19.33) vs 13.00 (6.00, 20.28) h, P < 0.001), shorter preoperative liquid fasting time [3.00 (2.00, 7.50) vs 12.00 (3.00, 20.28) h, P < 0.001], higher preoperative blood glucose level [5.6 (4.2, 8.2) vs 5.1 (4.0, 7.4) mmol/L, P < 0.001], lower incidence of thirst (74.5% vs 15.3%, P < 0.001), shorter time to postoperative feeding [1.17 (0.33, 6.83) vs 6.00 (5.40, 9.20), P < 0.001], and greater satisfaction [7 (0, 10) vs 8 (5, 10), P < 0.001]. No children experienced perioperative aspiration. The incidences of hunger, perioperative vomiting, and fever were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Optimizing fasting and clear fluid drinking before non-gastrointestinal surgery in children ≥ 3 mo of age is possible. It is safe and feasible to start early eating after evaluating the recovery from anesthesia and the swallowing function.

The Impact of Perioperative Fluid Balance on Postoperative Complications after Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Background: Perioperative fluid balance is an important indicator in the management of esophageal cancer patients who undergo esophagectomy. However, the association between perioperative fluid balance and postoperative complications after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) remains unclear. Methods: This study included 115 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer who underwent MIE between January 2018 and January 2020. We retrospectively evaluated the association between perioperative fluid balance from during surgery to postoperative day (POD) 2, and postoperative complications. Results: The patients were divided into lower group and higher group based on the median fluid balance during surgery and at POD 1 and POD 2. We found that the higher group at POD 1 (≥3000 mL) was the most important indicator of postoperative complications, such as acute pneumonia within 7 days after surgery, and anastomotic leakage (p = 0.029, p = 0.024, respectively). Moreover, the higher group at POD 1 was a significant independent factor for acute postoperative pneumonia by multivariate analysis (OR: 3.270, 95% CI: 1.077–9.929, p = 0.037). Conclusion: This study showed that fluid overload at POD 1 had a negative influence on postoperative complications in patients with esophageal cancer. The fluid balance must be strictly controlled during the early postoperative management of patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery.

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols for outpatient operations in otolaryngology: Review of literature

Objective

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are patient-centered, evidence-based pathways designed to reduce complications, promote recovery, and improve outcomes following surgery. These protocols have been successfully applied for the management of head and neck cancer, but relatively few studies have investigated the applicability of these pathways for other outpatient procedures in otolaryngology. Our goal was to perform a systematic review of available evidence reporting the utility of ERAS protocols for the management of patients undergoing outpatient otolaryngology operations.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and gray literature. We identified studies that evaluated ERAS protocols among patients undergoing otologic, laryngeal, nasal/sinus, pediatric, and general otolaryngology operations. We assessed the outcomes and ERAS components across protocols as well as the study design and limitations.

Results

A total of eight studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Types of procedures evaluated with ERAS protocols included tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy, and septoplasty. A reduction in postoperative length of stay and hospital costs was reported in two and three studies, respectively. Comparative studies between ERAS and control groups showed persistent improvement in pre- and postoperative anxiety and pain levels, without an increase in postoperative complications and readmission rates.

Conclusions

A limited number of studies discuss implementation of ERAS protocols for outpatient operations in otolaryngology. These clinical pathways appear promising for these procedures as they may reduce length of stay, decrease costs, and improve pain and anxiety postoperatively.

Continuous Infusion of Iohexol to Monitor Perioperative Glomerular Filtration Rate

Continuous monitoring of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the perioperative setting could provide valuable information about acute kidney injury risk for both clinical and research purposes. This pilot study aimed to demonstrate that GFR measurement by a continuous 72 hrs iohexol infusion in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery is feasible. Four patients undergoing robot-assisted colorectal cancer surgery were recruited from elective surgery listings. GFR was determined preoperatively by the single-sample iohexol clearance method, and postoperatively at timed intervals by a continuous iohexol infusion for 72 hrs. Plasma concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C were measured concurrently. GFR was calculated as (iohexol infusion rate (mg/min))/(plasma iohexol concentration (mg/mL)). The association of the three different filtration markers and GFR with time were analysed in generalized additive mixed models. The continuous infusion of iohexol was established in all four patients and maintained throughout the study period without interfering with ordinary postoperative care. Postoperative GFR at 2 hours were elevated compared to the preoperative measurements for patients 1, 2, and 3, but not for patient 4. Whereas patients 1, 2, and 3 had u-shaped postoperative mGFR curves, patient 4 demonstrated a linear increase in mGFR with time. We conclude that obtaining continuous measurements of GFR in the postoperative setting is feasible and can detect variations in GFR. The method can be used as a tool to track perioperative changes in renal function.

Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy Enhances Gastrointestinal Recovery after Laparoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Whether goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) provides any outcome benefit as compared to non-goal-directed fluid therapy (N-GDFT) in elective abdominal laparoscopic surgery has not been determined yet. (2) Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus. The main outcomes were length of hospital stay (LOHS), time to first flatus and stool, intraoperative fluid and vasopressor requirements, serum lactate levels, and urinary output. Pooled risks ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. (3) Results: Eleven studies were included in the quantitative, and fifteen in the qualitative synthesis. LOHS (WMD: -1.18 days, 95% CI: -1.84 to -0.53) and time to first stool (WMD: -9.8 h; CI -12.7 to -7.0) were significantly shorter in the GDFT group. GDFT resulted in significantly less intraoperative fluid administration (WMD: -441 mL, 95% CI: -790 to -92) and lower lactate levels at the end of the operation: WMD: -0.25 mmol L-1; 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.14. (4) Conclusions: GDFT resulted in enhanced recovery of the gastrointestinal function and shorter LOHS as compared to N-GDFT.

Strategies for optimal perioperative outcomes in gastric cancer

Cancer and surgery represent a major stress on the human body. Any condition that prevents patients from tolerating the physiological stress is a risk factor for poor outcome. There is a need to identify these impairments early in the process with a simple screening, followed by assessments that provide a holistic picture of the patient. The proposed path of multimodal prehabilitation acts synergistically with enhanced recovery after surgery care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Application of a perioperative nursing strategy in the surgical treatment of elderly patients: a narrative review†

With the steady increase of older people in society, a progressively greater number of patients belonging to the geriatric group need surgical treatment. Since elderly patients with reduced physiological reserve and organ failure often have chronic diseases, geriatric syndrome, and other clinical problems, the perioperative nursing of elderly patients is more complicated. Therefore, we need to comprehensively consider clinical issues, such as patients’ preoperative status, surgical risks, and postoperative quality of life and life expectancy, and conduct comprehensive evaluations and holistic, individualized, and continuous nursing and therapy through the participation of interdisciplinary teams to achieve better curative effects. Here, the perioperative nursing of elderly patients is reviewed, including preoperative evaluation and nursing, intraoperative management, and postoperative nursing.

Effect of intravenous lidocaine on propofol consumption in elderly patients undergoing colonoscopy: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients undergoing colonoscopy with propofol as sedation are prone to respiratory or cardiovascular complications. Intravenous lidocaine has analgesic efficacy and reduces propofol consumption during surgery. Here, the effect of intravenous lidocaine on propofol consumption was evaluated in elderly patients undergoing colonoscopy.

METHODS

Patients were randomly allocated to receive intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg bolus dose, followed by a 2 mg/kg/h continuous infusion during the procedure; Group L) or a placebo (saline; Group N). During the procedure, sedation was achieved by propofol. The following outcomes were recorded: total propofol consumption; time to loss of consciousness; number of airway modifications; time to the first airway intervention; incidence of sedation-related events; pain score after awakening; endoscopists' and patients' satisfaction scores; memory level of the procedure; and adverse events within 24 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

Compared with Group N, propofol consumption was reduced by 13.2% in Group L (100.30 ± 25.29 mg vs. 115.58 ± 27.52 mg, respectively, p = 0.008). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the median time to the loss of consciousness episode was shorter in Group L than in Group N (40 s vs. 55 s, respectively, log rank p < 0.0001). The number of airway modifications, time to the first airway intervention, incidence of sedation-related events, time to awakening, pain score after awakening, endoscopists' and patients' satisfaction scores, memory level of the procedure and adverse events within 24 h postoperatively did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous lidocaine can reduce propofol consumption in elderly patients undergoing colonoscopy, with quicker time to loss of consciousness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The clinical trial was registered at (12/01/2021, ChiCTR2100042001 ).

Influence of 3% Hypertonic Saline Versus 0.9% Saline on Intraoperative Maintenance Fluid Requirements in Adult Patients Undergoing Major Open Abdominal Surgeries: Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Three percent hypertonic saline (3% HTS) acts like an osmotic buffer and draws fluid from the extracellular space into the intravascular compartment. Primary objective was to evaluate whether use of 3% HTS resulted in a difference in intraoperative maintenance fluid requirement versus 0.9% saline (NS). Secondary objectives were to evaluate differences in 24 h fluid requirements and safety of 3% HTS.

METHODS

Adult patients of either sex, 18-65 years, undergoing elective major open abdominal surgeries were randomized to receive infusions of 3% HTS or NS at 1 ml/kg/hr through large bore peripheral i.v cannulas, or central venous catheters after anesthesia induction. Intraoperative maintenance fluids were administered to maintain mean arterial pressure (≥70 mmHg), urine output (≥0.5 ml/kg/hr) and central venous pressure of 8-10 cm H₂O.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients completed the study (46 in 3% HTS and 47 in NS group). No difference was seen in the volume of intraoperative maintenance fluids (3% HTS vs NS; 2243.9 ± 896.7 ml vs 2093.6 ± 868.7 ml; P = 0.34). Similarly, the 24 h postoperative fluid requirement was not different (3% HTS vs NS; 2006.6 ± 398.6 ml vs 2018.3 ± 389.3 ml; P = 0.94). Patients in 3% HTS group had statistically but not clinically significant higher serum sodium values at postoperative 12th and 24 h. No complication like thrombophlebitis or tissue ischemia was reported due to administration of 3% HTS through peripheral lines.

CONCLUSION

Administration of 3% HTS did not reduce intraoperative maintenance fluid requirements in patients undergoing major open abdominal surgeries.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CTRI/2019/09/021032.

Perioperative fluid administration and complications in emergency gastrointestinal surgery-an observational study

BACKGROUND

The fluid balance associated with a better outcome following emergency surgery is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the association of the perioperative fluid balance and postoperative complications during emergency gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients undergoing emergency surgery for gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation. A perioperative fluid balance of 2.5 L divided the cohort in a conservative and liberal group. Outcome was Clavien-Dindo graded complications registered 90 days postoperatively. We used logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists' classification, use of epidural analgesia, use of vasopressor, type of surgery, intraabdominal pathology, and hospital. Predicted risk of complications was demonstrated on a continuous scale of the fluid balance.

RESULTS

We included 342 patients operated between July 2014 and July 2015 from three centers. The perioperative fluid balance was 1.6 L IQR [1.0 to 2.0] in the conservative vs. 3.6 L IQR [3.0 to 5.3] in the liberal group. Odds ratio of overall 2.6 (95% CI 1.5 to 4.4), p < 0.001, and cardiopulmonary complications 3.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.7), p < 0.001, were increased in the liberal group. A perioperative fluid balance of 0-2 L was associated with minimal risk of cardiopulmonary complications compared to 1.5-3.5 L for renal complications.

CONCLUSION

We found a perioperative fluid balance above 2.5 L to be associated with an increased risk of overall and cardiopulmonary complications following emergency surgery for gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation. A perioperative fluid balance of 0-2 L was associated with the lowest risk of cardiopulmonary complications and 1.5-3.5 L for renal complications.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin in diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Preoperative carbohydrate drink is used to improve patients' comfort and recovery, but evidence remains limited in diabetic patients. Herein we investigated the effects of preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin regimen in diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

A total of 63 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery were randomized to receive either carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin (Carbohydrate group) or routine management (Control group). The primary outcome was time to first flatus after surgery. Among secondary outcomes, subjective feelings of thirsty, hunger and fatigue were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (scores range from 0 to 100, where 0 indicate no discomfort and 100 the most severe discomfort) before and after surgery. Adverse events were monitored until 24 h after surgery.

RESULTS

All patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Time to first flatus did not differ between groups (median 41 h [IQR 18-69] in the Control group vs. 43 h [27-54] in the Carbohydrate group; hazard ratio 1.24 [95% CI 0.74-2.07]; P = 0.411). The VAS score of preoperative subject feeling of thirsty (median difference -33 [95% CI -50 to -15], P < 0.001), hunger (-25 [-40 to -10], P < 0.001), and fatigue (-5 [-30 to 0], P = 0.004), as well as postoperative subject feeling of thirsty (-50 [-60 to -30], P < 0.001), hunger (-20 [-40 to 0], P = 0.003), and fatigue (0 [-20 to 0], P = 0.020) were all significantly lower in the Carbohydrate group than in the Control group. Intraoperative hypotension (40.6% [13/32] vs. 16.1% [5/31], P = 0.031) and postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 h (31.3% [10/32] vs. 9.7% [3/31], P = 0.034) occurred less in patients given carbohydrate drink.

CONCLUSION

In diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, preoperative carbohydrate loading with individualized supplemental insulin did not promote gastrointestinal recovery but improved perioperative well-being.

Fit for Surgery—feasibility of short-course multimodal individualized prehabilitation in high-risk frail colon cancer patients prior to surgery

Background

Prehabilitation is a promising modality for improving patient-related outcomes after major surgery; however, very little research has been done for those who may need it the most: the elderly and the frail. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a short course multimodal prehabilitation prior to primary surgery in high-risk, frail patients with colorectal cancer and WHO performance status I and II.

Methods

The study was conducted as a single-center, prospective one-arm feasibility study of eight patients with colon cancer between October 4, 2018, and January 14, 2019. The intervention consisted of a physical training program tailored to the patients with both high-intensity interval training and resistance training three times a week in sessions of approximately 1 h in length, for a duration of at least 4 weeks, nutritional support with protein and vitamins, a consultation with a dietician, and medical optimization prior to surgery. Feasibility was evaluated regarding recruitment, retention, compliance and adherence, acceptability, and safety. Retention was evaluated as the number of patients that completed the intervention, with a feasibility goal of 75% completing the intervention. Compliance with the high-intensity training was evaluated as the number of sessions in which the patient achieved a minimum of 4 min > 90% of their maximum heart rate and adherence as the attended out of the offered training sessions.

Results

During the study period, 64 patients were screened for eligibility, and out of nine eligible patients, eight patients were included and seven completed the intervention (mean age 80, range 66–88). Compliance to the high-intensity interval training using 90% of maximum heart rate as the monitor of intensity was difficult to measure in several patients; however, adherence to the training sessions was 87%. Compliance with nutritional support was 57%. Half the patients felt somewhat overwhelmed by the multiple appointments and six out of seven reported difficulties with the dosage of protein.

Conclusions

This one-arm feasibility study indicates that multimodal prehabilitation including high-intensity interval training can be performed by patients with colorectal cancer and WHO performance status I and II.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov: the study current feasibility study was conducted prior to the initiation of a full ongoing randomized trial registered by NCT04167436; date of registration: November 18, 2019. Retrospectively registered. No separate prospectively registration of the feasibility trial was conducted but outlined by the approved study protocol (Danish Scientific Ethical Committee SJ-607).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-022-00967-8.

Early mobilization in enhanced recovery after surgery pathways: current evidence and recent advancements

Early mobilization is a crucial component of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways that counteract the adverse physiological consequences of surgical stress and immobilization. Early mobilization reduces the risk of postoperative complications, accelerates the recovery of functional walking capacity, positively impacts several patient-reported outcomes and reduces hospital length of stay, thereby reducing care costs. Modifiable barriers to early mobilization include a lack of education and a lack of resources. Education and clinical decision-making tools can improve compliance with ERAS mobilization recommendations and create a culture that prioritizes perioperative physical activity. Recent advances include real-time feedback of mobilization quantity using wearable technology and combining ERAS with exercise prehabilitation. ERAS guidelines should emphasize the benefits of structured postoperative mobilization.

Postoperative Pain Management in Enhanced Recovery Pathways

Postoperative pain is a common but often inadequately treated condition. Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) are increasingly being utilized to standardize perioperative care and improve outcomes. ERPs employ multimodal postoperative pain management strategies that minimize opioid use and promote recovery. While traditional opioid medications continue to play an important role in the treatment of postoperative pain, ERPs also rely on a wide range of non-opioid pharmacologic therapies as well as regional anesthesia techniques to manage pain in the postoperative setting. The evidence for the use of these interventions continues to evolve rapidly given the increasing focus on enhanced postoperative recovery. This article reviews the current evidence and knowledge gaps pertaining to commonly utilized modalities for postoperative pain management in ERPs.

Mini-laparotomy radical cystectomy with limited bowel externalization during ileal conduit urinary diversion reduces the rate of postoperative complications: a match-paired, single centered analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and functional outcomes of mini-laparotomy radical cystectomy (RC) in association with limited bowel externalization during ileal conduit urinary diversion.

METHODS

Between January 2018 and March 2020, 53 patients underwent RC plus pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder. This group of patients was intentionally treated utilizing the mini-laparotomy approach, with the addition of limited bowel externalization during conduit preparation and match-paired with 46 examinees from a historical series of patients who underwent conventional open RC plus PLND and ileal conduit diversion. Clinicopathological features and perioperative outcomes were examined from medical records, while postoperative pain was evaluated through the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS). Mean pain scores were evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 1-3.

RESULTS

There was no difference in specific intraoperative complications between groups, with a median (range) incision length of 8 (5-10) cm within the first group and 16.3 (12-22.6) cm within the second group. The first group had less postoperative pain compared with patients in the second group, with mean pain scores significantly lower across POD 1-3, 3.8 (IQR: 0-6) versus 6.7 (IQR: 3.8-8.1) and 2.5 (IQR: 1-3.7) versus 4.6 (IQR: 3-6), respectively (p = .012 and .002).

CONCLUSIONS

By using this technique, we were able to significantly reduce patients' postoperative pain, time to bowel restitution, and hospital stay, which are major issues in minimizing short-term postoperative complications of conventional open surgery.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

Low functional capacity, malnutrition, and anaemia are associated with an increased risk of complications after surgery. These high-risk indicators can be improved through preoperative interventions. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of screening for modifiable high-risk factors combined with targeted interventions on postoperative complications in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods

A controlled before-and-after study was conducted including patients with colorectal cancer undergoing elective curative surgery between August 2015 and October 2018, in two institutions (intervention and control hospital). The intervention consisted of a screening for anaemia, low functional capacity, and nutritional status and their implementation (iron supplementation, prehabilitation, nutritional supplements, and consultation with a dietician), for a minimum of 4 weeks before surgery. The primary outcome was a composite measure consisting of unplanned admission to the intensive care unit, complications with Clavien–Dindo score of 3a or above, length of hospital stay less than 10 days, readmission, or death within 30 days during the postoperative course.

Results

A total of 1591 patients were included for analysis with 839 at the intervention hospital and 752 at the control hospital. In a difference-in-difference analysis, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, stage of disease, ASA score, surgical approach, and surgical procedure, the intervention was associated with a 10.9 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 2.1 to 19.7 per cent) absolute risk reduction of a complicated postoperative course, primarily due to a reduction in severe complications.

Conclusion

The combined intervention of screening and prehabilitation was associated with a decreased risk of a complicated course, primarily in a reduction of severe complications.

Side-to-side versus end-to-side ileocolic anastomosis in right-sided colectomies: A cohort control study

Aims:

The three main types of anastomotic configurations following colorectal resection are Side-to-Side Anastomosis (S-S), End-to-Side Anastomosis (E-S) and End-to-End Anastomosis (E-E). This study aims to present results from a local cohort supplemented by a systematic review with meta-analysis of existing literature to compare the post-operative outcomes between E-S and S-S.

Methods:

A cohort study of patients who underwent right colectomy with E-S or S-S anastomosis, was conducted at the National University Hospital Singapore. Electronic databases Embase and Medline were systematically searched from inception to 21 August 2020, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Studies were included if they compared post-operative outcomes between E-S and S-S.

Results:

In the cohort study, 40 underwent E-S and 154 underwent S-S. Both post-operative ileus (12.5% vs. 29.2%, P = 0.041) and length of hospital stay (9.35 days vs. 14.04 days, P = 0.024) favoured E-S, but anastomotic bleed favoured S-S (15.0% vs. 3.2%, P = 0.004). Five studies were included in the meta-analysis with 860 E-S and 1126 S-S patients. Similarly, post-operative ileus (odds ratio [OR] =0.302; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.122–0.747; P = 0.010) and length of hospital stay (mean differences = ‒1.54 days; CI: ‒3.00 to ‒0.076 days; P = 0.039) favoured E-S. Additional sensitivity analysis including only stapled anastomosis showed a lower rate of anastomotic leak in E-S patients (OR = 0.185; 95% CI: 0.054–0.627; P = 0.007).

Conclusions:

This is the first systematic review to show that the E-S technique produces superior post-operative outcomes after right colectomy compared to S-S. However, the choice of anastomosis was largely surgeon dependent, but surgeon factors were not reported.

Effectiveness of the Tailored, Early Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program (t-ECRP) based on ERAS in improving the physical function recovery for patients following minimally invasive esophagectomy: a prospective randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Perioperative rehabilitation management is essential to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Limited reports, however, have focused on quantitative, detailed early activity plans for patients receiving minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). The purpose of this research was to estimate the effectiveness of the Tailored, Early Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program (t-ECRP) based on ERAS in the recovery of bowel and physical functions for patients undergoing MIE.

METHODS

In this single-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group, randomized pilot clinical trial, patients admitted to the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2019 to February 2020 were selected and randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The participants in the IG received medical care based on the t-ECRP strategy during perioperative period, and participants in the CG received routine care. The recovery of bowel and physical functions, readiness for hospital discharge (RHD), and postoperative hospital stay were evaluated on the day of discharge.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifteen cases with esophageal cancer (EC) were enrolled and randomized to the IG (n = 107) or CG (n = 108). The mean age was 62.58 years (SD 9.07) and 71.16% were male. For EC, 53.49% were mid-location cancers and 79.07% were classified as pathological stage II and III cancers. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics and baseline physical functions. Participants in the IG group presented significantly shorter lengths of time to first flatus (P < 0.001), first postoperative bowel movement (P = 0.024), and for up and go test (P < 0.001), and lower scores of frailty (P < 0.001). The analysis also showed that participants in the IG had higher scores of RHD and shorter lengths of postoperative stay than in the CG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The t-ECRP appears to improve bowel and physical function recovery, ameliorate RHD, and shorten postoperative hospital stay for patients undergoing MIE. Clinicians should consider prescribing quantitative, detailed, and individualized early activity plans for these patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT01998230).

Management of acute kidney injury in gastrointestinal tumor: An overview

Gastrointestinal tumors remain a global health problem. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication during the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors. AKI can cause a decrease in the remission rate and an increase in mortality. In this review, we analyzed the causes and risk factors for AKI in gastrointestinal tumor patients. The possible mechanisms of AKI were divided into three groups: pretreatment, intrafraction and post-treatment causes. Treatment and prevention measures were proposed according to various factors to provide guidance to clinicians and oncologists that can reduce the incidence of AKI and improve the quality of life and survival rate of gastrointestinal tumor patients.

Background for the introduction of enhanced recovery after surgery and patient outcomes

Background: To facilitate early postoperative recovery of surgical patients, various efforts have been made to develop effective treatment methods since 1990; moreover, these efforts have not been limited to surgical techniques and include multiple aspects of the entire treatment process. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a surgical quality improvement project that has advanced substantially since it was first introduced in 1995 and has now been firmly established in the field of perioperative care.Current Concepts: ERAS consists of many components that cover each stage before, during, and after surgery, and its clinical application changes according to the results of evidence-based research for each item. To date, more than 20 ERAS guidelines have been created for each disease, and more guidelines are expected in the future. Many studies have reported that ERAS is associated with meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes and reductions of medical costs in many surgical fields.Discussion and Conclusion: ERAS remains a work in progress, and continuous research and improvement is needed in relation to the components, areas of application, audit of compliance and results, education, and a multidisciplinary approach.

Enhanced recovery after surgery: anesthesia-related components

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a multidisciplinary and multimodal evidence-based approach aimed at improving the recovery of surgical patients. Successful implementation of ERAS protocols requires proper perioperative communication and collaboration among surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical personnel.Current Concepts: The anesthesiologist is the clinical leader responsible for the ERAS program. Preoperative patient evaluation, optimization, and patient education are essential components of the ERAS program. The program also involves preoperative fasting and carbohydrate loading to minimize catabolic effects. Selection of an appropriate anesthetic regimen, fluid and temperature management, avoidance of intra/postoperative nausea and vomiting, and multimodal pain management are the key components of ERAS for which the anesthesiologist is responsible.Discussion and Conclusion: Factors that enable the successful implementation of ERAS include the willingness to change to ERAS, formation of multidisciplinary teams to improve cooperation, and support from the hospital management, as well as standardization of order sets and care processes and the appropriate use of audits. As the leader of the ERAS team, the anesthesiologist should be actively involved in comprehensive management of the patient during the perioperative period.