Files
Download Full Text (373 KB)
Publication Date
8-2020
Keywords
School of Anesthesia
Disciplines
Anesthesiology | Medical Education | Nursing
Abstract
Background Cesarean delivery is the most common major surgery worldwide. 1 In 2018, 1.2 million cesarean deliveries occurred in the United States, accounting for nearly 32% of all deliveries.2 Research has shown ERAS benefits include decreased length of stay, improved pain control, and improved patient satisfaction.2,3 Despite its use in numerous surgical specialties, ERAS implementation within obstetrics has been slow.2 The ERAS Society released a three-part guideline specific to cesarean deliveries in 2018 and 2019,4,5,6 yet few studies have assessed the impact of ERAS on cesarean postoperative outcomes.2 An improved perioperative course would be particularly beneficial for mothers undergoing cesarean delivery as they require a quick recovery in order to care for their newborn. The purpose of this retrospective, observational study was to determine how the recovery process following cesarean delivery may be improved by standardizing the perioperative care pathway, with the primary outcome of interest being postoperative length of stay.
Methods • Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (PSHMC) • This project was approved by the PSHMC Clinical Innovation and Research Council and deemed exempt from human subjects research by Providence Health Care Institutional Review Board. • Human subjects protection: Patient demographic and surgical data from electronic medical records were extracted, deidentified, and encrypted using a REDCap data collection tool • Inclusion Criteria: parturients 18 years of age or older who underwent scheduled cesarean delivery between June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018 for pre-intervention group and June 1, 2019 to February 29, 2019 for postintervention group. • Exclusion Criteria: urgent or emergent cesarean deliveries, cesarean deliveries occurring in the run-in time period of June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019, and mothers under the age of 18 years. • Outcome measurement: postoperative length of stay, defined as time of end of surgery to time of discharge • Exposure measurement: defined as post-ERAS protocol implementation following April 1, 2019. • Other variables considered included: age, weeks gestation, BMI, ASA, primary vs repeat cesarean, weeks gestation, and multiparty births. • Statistical analysis: a-prior power analysis, univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis
Discussion In this retrospective observational study, this facility’s postoperative LOS following cesarean delivery was found to be low, with a median of 52.4 hours. Following ERAS implementation, the median postoperative LOS decreased to 51.2 hours but was not found to be statistically significant in an adjusted model. Cesarean deliveries comprised nearly 29% of all births at this facility, 58.5% of which were scheduled or elective cesarean deliveries. Characteristics of parturients were very similar among the pre- and post-ERAS patient groups; most patients were classified as ASA 2 and a mean age of 31 years. Repeated multivariate analysis using run-in periods of varying lengths and controlling for time consistently showed no significant difference in postoperative LOS between the pre-ERAS and post-ERAS groups. With the postoperative LOS at PSHMC being low prior to protocol implementation, it is likely that other facilities with longer postoperative LOS may see a greater benefit of ERAS implementation. Additional work is still required to further the understanding of ERAS for cesarean deliveries and its impact on postoperative recovery. Future studies of interest includes determining 30-day readmission rates and emergency room visits following discharge. In order to determine the true effect ERAS may have on postoperative length of stay and the recovery process following cesarean delivery, large prospective control trials are needed.
Area of Special Interest
Women & Children
Specialty/Research Institute
Anesthesiology
Specialty/Research Institute
Nursing
Conference / Event Name
AANA 2020 Virtual Congress
Location
Virtual Conference
