This is an observational study to look at the impact of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system for colorectal surgery (Group 1) in shortening hospital length of stay, reducing postoperative narcotic consumption, lowering Visual Analog Scale scores, decreasing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and reducing 30-day readmission when compared to patients who had colorectal surgery performed at UAMS prior to the implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system (Group 2). This is a retrospective study using de-identified records and therefore will not require subject enrollment and is NOT Human Subjects Research.
The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system for perioperative care of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, particularly colorectal surgery, was formed in Europe by a surgeon named Henrik Kehlet in 1994. Dr. Kehlet observed that his patients undergoing colorectal surgery were hospitalized postoperatively for extended periods of time due to prolonged return of the normal intestinal physiology and of other bodily functions. Dr. Kehlet formulated a system of perioperative care that focused on preserving and promoting faster return of normal physiologic function of the human body following surgery. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system has been implemented in the United States for nearly a decade now, primarily at major academic institutions. Numerous publications exist that report the dramatic positive impacts of this program on reducing postoperative hospital length of stay, reducing 30-day hospital readmissions, and improving patient satisfaction. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences implemented several components of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system for colorectal surgery in June 2015. This is an observational study to look at the impact that program (Group 1) in shortening hospital length of stay, reducing postoperative narcotic consumption, lowering Visual Analog Scale scores, decreasing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and reducing 30-day readmission when compared to patients who had colorectal surgery performed at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences prior to the implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system (Group 2).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
The Enhanced Recovery protocol focuses on many areas or perioperative care, including non-narcotic pain management, optimization of fluid balance throughout the perioperative course, early eating, ambulation, early removal of drains postoperatively, and preoperative patient education.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
RECRUITINGHospital length of stay
To compare the hospital length of stay following major colorectal surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for patients who had their perioperative care guided by the principles of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system to those that had major colorectal surgery at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences prior to the implementation of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery system.
Time frame: 30 days from the conclusion of the surgical procedure
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