Jacob, Adam K.

BACKGROUND: Excessive perioperative fluid administration likely increases postoperative cardiovascular, infectious, and GI complications. Early administration of diuretics after elective surgery facilitates rapid mobilization of excess fluid, potentially leading to decreased bowel edema, more rapid return of bowel function, and reduced length of hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of early diuresis after elective colon and rectal surgery in the setting of an enhanced recovery after surgery practice. DESIGN: This was a prospective study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a quaternary referral center. PATIENTS: A randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial was conducted in patients undergoing elective colon and rectal surgery at a single quaternary referral center. INTERVENTION: The primary intervention was administration of intravenous furosemide plus enhanced recovery after surgery on postoperative day 1 and 2 versus enhanced recovery after surgery alone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission rate, time to stool output during hospitalization after surgery, and incidence of various complications within the first 48 hours of hospital stay. RESULTS: In total, 123 patients were randomly assigned to receive either furosemide plus enhanced recovery after surgery (n = 62) or enhanced recovery after surgery alone (n = 61). Groups were evenly matched at baseline. At interim analysis, length of hospital stay was not superior in the intervention group (80.6 vs 99.6 hours, p = 0.564). No significant difference was identified in the rates of nasogastric tube replacement (1.6% vs 9.7%, p = 0.125). Time to return of bowel function was significantly longer in the intervention group (45.4 vs 48.8 hours, p = 0.048). The decision was made to end the study early because the conditional power of the study favored futility. LIMITATIONS: This was a single-center study. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of furosemide does not significantly reduce the length of hospital stay after elective colon and rectal surgery in the setting of enhanced recovery after surgery practice. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A714.

Purpose. Multimodal analgesia is an essential component of an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP). An ERP that includes the use of single-injection intrathecal analgesia (IA) has been shown to decrease morbidity and cost and shorten length of stay (LOS). Limited data exist on safety, feasibility, and the optimal IA regimen. Our objective was to characterize the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of IA within an ERP in a cohort of colorectal surgical patients. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of all consecutive patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent open or minimally invasive colorectal surgery from October 2012 to December 2013. All patients were enrolled in an institutional ERP that included the use of single-injection IA. Demographics, anesthetic management, efficacy (pain scores and opiate consumption), postoperative ileus (POI), adverse effects, and LOS are reported. Results. 601 patients were identified. The majority received opioid-only IA (91%) rather than a multimodal regimen. Median LOS was 3 days. Overall rate of ileus was 16%. Median pain scores at 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours were 3, 2, 3, 4, and 3, respectively. There was no difference in postoperative pain scores, LOS, or POI based on intrathecal medication or dose received. Overall, development of respiratory depression (0.2%) or pruritus (1.2%) was rare. One patient required blood patch for postdural headache. Conclusion. Intrathecal analgesia is safe, feasible, and efficacious in the setting of ERP for colorectal surgery. All regimens and doses achieved a short LOS, low pain scores, and a low incidence of POI. This trial is registered with Clinicaltrails.gov NCT03411109.

Background. Postthoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is unfortunately very common following thoracotomy and results in decreased quality of life. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine perioperative patient, surgical, and analgesic characteristics associated with the development of PTPS. Methods. Sixty-six patients who presented to the Mayo Clinic Rochester Pain Clinic were diagnosed with PTPS 2 months or more after thoracotomy with postoperative epidural analgesia. These patients were matched with sixty-six control patients who underwent thoracotomy with postoperative epidural analgesia and were never diagnosed with PTPS. Results. Median (IQR) hospital stay was significantly different between control patients (5 days (4, 6)) compared with PTPS patients (6 days (5, 8)), P<0.02. The total opioid equivalent utilized in oral morphine equivalents in milligrams for the first three days postoperatively was significantly different between control patients and PTPS patients. The median (IQR) total opioid equivalent utilized was 237 (73, 508) for controls and 366 (116, 874) for PTPS patients (P<0.005). Conclusion. Patients with a prolonged hospital stay after thoracotomy were at an increased risk of developing PTPS, and this is a novel finding. Patients who utilize higher oral morphine equivalents for the first 3 days were also at increased risk for PTPS.

BackgroundPast research has explored patients' expectations about the informed consent process. However, it is currently unknown if the complexity of the surgical procedure influences the type of anesthesia‐related risks that patients wish disclosed. This study explored fears of anesthesia‐related complications and whether these changed based on severity of surgery classification.MethodsPatients presenting to our pre‐operative evaluation clinic from February 2013 to May 2013 were asked to participate in a survey‐based study meant to evaluate their perception of five possible anesthetic risks (peripheral nerve injury, death, nausea and vomiting, heart attack and stroke) when confronted with differing levels of surgical severity.ResultsOne thousand surveys were administered, and 894 were returned for an overall response rate of 89%. Fear of death was the greatest concern as compared to the other risk factors independent of the severity of surgery. The level of fear for all risk factors, with the exception of stroke and heart attack, were dependent on the severity of surgery. Fear of death decreased as the severity of surgery decreased (major 46%, moderate 38%, minor 25%). For major surgery, the fear of perioperative death differed significantly with age (P < 0.001); specifically, with increasing age came a lessened fear of death.ConclusionAwareness by anesthesia providers of those fears that patients report may allow for a more personalized approach to providing information that may better allay anxiety. Further, these results may better tailor the informed consent process to one that meets particular patient concerns.

Background Perioperative nerve injury (PNI) is a recognized complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Regional anesthesia (RA) techniques may increase the risk of neurologic injury. Using a retrospective cohort study, the authors tested the hypothesis that use of RA increases the risk for PNI after elective THA. Methods All adult patients who underwent elective THA at Mayo Clinic during a 20-yr period were included. The primary outcome was the presence of a new PNI within 3 months of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate patient, surgical, and anesthetic risk factors for PNI. Results Of 12,998 patients undergoing THA, 93 experienced PNI (incidence = 0.72%; 95% CI 0.58-0.88%). PNI was not associated with type of anesthesia (OR = 0.72 for neuraxial-combined vs. general; 95% CI 0.46-1.14) or peripheral nerve blockade (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.34-1.21). The risk for PNI was associated with younger age (OR = 0.79 per 10-yr increase; 95% CI 0.69-0.90), female gender (OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.12-2.64), longer operations (OR = 1.10 per 30-min increase; 95% CI 1.03-1.18) or posterior surgical approach (OR = 1.91 vs. anterior approach; 95% CI 1.22-2.99). Neurologic recovery was not influenced by the use of RA techniques in patients with PNI. Conclusions The risk for PNI after THA was not increased with the use of neuraxial anesthesia or peripheral nerve blockade. Neurologic recovery in patients who experienced PNI was not affected by the use of RA. These results support the use of RA techniques in patients undergoing elective THA given their known functional and clinical benefits.

Abstract Background Accelerated recovery pathways may reduce length of hospital stay after surgery but there are few data on minimally invasive colorectal operations. Methods An enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) was instituted, including preoperative analgesia, limited intravenous fluids and opiates, and early feeding. Intrathecal analgesia was administered as needed, but epidural analgesia was not used. The first 66 patients subjected to the ERP were case-matched by surgeon, procedure and age (within 5 years) with patients treated previously in a fast-track pathway (FTP). Short-term and postoperative outcomes to 30 days were compared. Results Hospital stay was shorter with the ERP than the FTP: median (interquartile range, i.q.r.) 3 (2–3) versus 3 (3–5) days (P &lt; 0·001). A 2-day hospital stay was achieved in 44 and 8 per cent of patients respectively (P &lt; 0·001). Patients in the ERP had a shorter time to recovery of bowel function: median (i.q.r.) 1 (1–2) versus 2 (2–3) days (P &lt; 0·001). Thirty-day complication rates were similar (32 per cent ERP, 27 per cent FTP; P = 0·570). Readmissions within 30 days were more common with ERP, but the difference was not statistically significant (10 versus 5 patients; P = 0·170). Total hospital stay for those readmitted was shorter in the ERP group (18 versus 23 days). Conclusion ERP decreased the length of hospital stay after minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Perioperative nerve injury (PNI) is one of the most debilitating complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although regional anesthesia (RA) techniques reduce pain and improve functional outcomes after TKA, they may also contribute to PNI. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that PNI risk differs among patients according to RA use during TKA. Methods All patients aged at least 18 yr who underwent elective TKA from January 1988 to July 2007 were retrospectively identified. The primary outcome variable was the presence of a new PNI documented within 3 months of the procedural date. Age, sex, body mass index, type of procedure, tourniquet time, type of anesthesia, and use of peripheral nerve blockade were evaluated as potential risk factors for PNI using multivariable logistic regression. Results Ninety-seven cases of PNI were identified among 12,329 patients. Overall incidence of PNI was 0.79% (95% CI, 0.64-0.96%). PNI was not associated with peripheral nerve blockade (odds ratio [OR], 0.97) or type of anesthesia (OR, 1.10 [neuraxial vs. general]; OR, 1.82 [combined vs. general]). Risk for PNI decreased with age (OR, 0.68 [per decade]; P < 0.001) but increased with tourniquet time (OR, 1.28 [per 30-min increase]; P = 0.003) and bilateral procedures (OR, 2.51; P < 0.001). Patients with PNI who underwent peripheral nerve blockade were less likely to have complete neurologic recovery (OR, 0.37; P = 0.03). Conclusions Risk for PNI after TKA was unchanged by the use of RA techniques. This finding supports the notion that the known benefits of RA for patients undergoing TKA can be achieved without increasing risk of neurologic injury. However, in rare situations when PNI occurs, complete recovery may be less likely if it develops after peripheral nerve blockade.